Borage borage herb. borage

Borago adds a cucumber flavor to spring hash and salads, when cucumber seedlings are just beginning to take root in greenhouses.

This unpretentious spicy plant has become a regular in country gardens with the advent of fashion for healthy eating. The aroma of borage is reminiscent of fresh cucumber, which is why it is called borage. The plant is different rapid growth and sprouts within 10-12 days, and after a month you can already add this exclusively rich in vitamins greens in cold vegetable appetizers and salads.

Borago (Borago officinalis)- This annual plant borage family. Borago comes from the Mediterranean. The plant looks

It’s very decorative, which is also why summer residents love it. Borago has beautiful shaggy silver-green leaves, large, fleshy and rough.

The plant has a straight stem that grows up to 60 cm and even a meter in height, and spreading side shoots. Tap root with numerous branches. Borago has delicate sky-blue flowers with a pink tint, edged with long white bristles. The borage bush is compact and neat and during flowering it is completely covered with flowers. Borago blooms from June to September.

Why do you need borage?

Borago is an invaluable source of vitamin C. Borago contains three times more of this vitamin than cucumbers!

The leaves of this plant are rich in mineral salts and vitamins, valuable organic acids and tannins, and also contain useful mucilages. borage- the basis of many drugs known since ancient times alternative medicine. For medicinal purposes, the plant is harvested during flowering: the ground part is dried separately, and the flowers are also dried separately.

Both are dried in the shade, naturally, with good ventilation. The plant is used to strengthen nervous system, decoctions and infusions of borage remove internal tension and irritation. Borage is also a mild laxative and anti-inflammatory agent.

To prepare an infusion of borage, you need to take naturally dried leaves in a shaded place. According to an ancient Slavic folk recipe, the infusion is prepared as follows: 1 tbsp. l. dry leaves or 1 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water over the flowers and leave in a closed container wrapped in a towel for 5 hours (in our time, you can use a thermos for this purpose). After this, filter the infusion, add sugar to taste and take 2 tbsp for five days. l. The infusion helps with swelling, kidney inflammation and rheumatism. It has a diaphoretic and diuretic effect, stimulates the adrenal glands. It is a means of restoring impaired metabolism, treats gout, skin diseases and articular rheumatism.

SUGAR FLOWERS

Place borage flowers in a sterilized jar, sprinkling them with fine granulated sugar(you can use powdered sugar). Close the container tightly with a lid and place it in a cool place for 15-20 days. The container should be shaken gently every day. After three weeks, the jar of candied flowers should be placed in the refrigerator. But they are not stored for long. For culinary purposes, it is better to use fresh candied flowers.

Borago is great in salads

The young leaves of this plant have a cucumber aroma and a fresh, salty taste. They are great in almost any green salad, spring okroshka and vinaigrette.

But before you use borage for food, you need to crush the leaves with a rolling pin in a wooden mortar or cut them into very small strips, since you need to get rid of the thorns.

Borago leaves do not tolerate heat treatment. They can only be used in cold dishes. The flowers of this plant are also used for food - they are delicate, sky-blue in color. Homemade liqueurs are infused with borage flowers.

Where will borage grow?

Unlike many herbs, borage is a cold-resistant plant. Sometimes it is even sown “before winter,” but in general borage is sown in early spring. This plant germinates quickly. The best predecessors of borage are cabbage, potatoes, legumes, tomatoes.

In addition, borage, unlike most spicy plants, does not need large quantities sunlight. When grown at home on a windowsill, it develops well even on dark winter days, which so often happen in our latitudes. Borago doesn't like

direct sunlight, it is better to shade it a little; it can be planted under trees. This plant is not picky about soil. Wild borage reproduces by self-sowing: the seeds fall off and overwinter in the soil, giving vigorous shoots in the spring. But in order to obtain tender greens suitable for food, cultivated varieties of bo-rago must be grown on fertile soils. Borage is quite drought-resistant.

Borage varieties that are grown on summer cottages: Vladykinskoe Semko, Gnome and Brook. The best predecessors for borage are potatoes and cabbage.

Borago is propagated by seeds. The fruit of borage consists of four fairly large black nuts that fall off easily. Such “nuts” remain viable for up to three years. They ripen in July-September.

In order to prevent self-seeding, borage seeds are removed without waiting for them to fully ripen. They ripen on paper in a bright room.

Growing borage - even a beginner can handle it

In the fall, when digging the site, superphosphate is added (at the rate of 25 g per square meter) and potassium salt (15 g for the same area). In spring, the soil is fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer (preferably ammonium nitrate) at the rate of 10-15 g per square meter.

Borage is sown in early spring, in March, placing the seeds to a depth of about 2 cm. If you want to get fresh greens earlier, you can cover the bed with borage with film. Borage is sown in rows (the optimal number of seeds is 3-6 g per sq. m) with a distance between them of about 40 cm. The seedlings will hatch on the 10-12th day. In order to collect fresh greens before late autumn borage is sown again in August. Many gardeners sow this plant “before winter.” Sowing in several stages is justified, since this plant gains height very quickly and the leaves become coarser. Borago blooms from May to July.

Borago is a biennial plant, but is grown in culture as an annual. Perfect as a herb for growing on a windowsill. The fleshy stem of this plant in indoor conditions reaches 70 cm in height. Succulent elliptical leaves and large heavenly blue flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences, will decorate any interior. Interestingly, at the end of flowering they acquire a pink tint. When grown indoors, this plant produces fresh greens all year round: to do this, it is enough to maintain an interval between sowings of 15 days.

To get greens in early dates The garden bed should be placed in a sunny place, and for eating greens in the summer - in a shaded place. Sown before winter, borage seeds overwinter well in the soil and produce vigorous shoots in the spring.

Why a borage greenhouse?

Borage is an excellent honey plant and attracts pollinating insects. Therefore, it is often planted in greenhouses and greenhouses where insect-pollinated plants are grown - in particular, cucumbers. Another advantage of borage is that this plant kills weeds.

If borage is sown in a heated greenhouse, sowing can be done as early as the end of February or in September. In greenhouses, borage is sown scattered, as well as in rows with an interval of 8-10 cm.

Borage - watering and fertilizing

Caring for borage is not difficult. This includes regular, not too abundant watering, as well as loosening the beds and thinning out the plants. Those plants that are grown for greens are thinned out, leaving an interval of 10 cm between the bushes. Between plants grown for seeds, it is necessary to leave an interval of 35-60 cm. Watering is very important, otherwise the leaves will not be juicy. Fertilizing with organic matter must be done before borage blooms. An infusion of mullein will do.

The first borage crop is harvested 4 weeks after emergence. The most tender and fragrant plants with cotyledons and the first two true leaves (5-7 cm long) are harvested completely, like spinach. Borago should not be allowed to “outgrow”. Old leaves become coarser, lose their taste and delicate smell of fresh cucumber.

Sometimes the cucumber grass is allowed to grow for another 5-7 days and the young leaves are cut off. To preserve them, place them in baskets or boxes in a dark, cool place - then the leaves will remain fresh for several days. After all, on average, from 1 sq. m collect about 1 kg of fresh leaves.

Borago seeds are harvested when a third of the fruits become brown. They ripen in well-ventilated areas, on thick fabric or paper. Completely dried borage plants should be threshed - best in frosty weather. On average from square meter you can get about 200 g of seeds.

Growing borage: summer residents share their experience on planting and care

Cucumber salad... without cucumbers

You don't have to add it to a salad for flavor. fresh cucumbers. They can be successfully replaced by a plant scientifically called borage, or popularly called borage or borage.

How to grow

It can be grown in the garden, or at home, even in winter. To do this, you will need a wooden box with holes in the bottom, which is filled with a nutrient mixture. It consists of three parts of turf soil and one part of humus with the addition of wood ash. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm. Growing plants should be 15-20 cm apart from each other.

The box can be placed on the windowsill. Borago does not require additional lighting; ordinary daylight is sufficient for it.

On a note

Young leaves are eaten and removed until the flower shoot appears. You can also sprinkle the fresh flowers of the plant with sugar - this is a wonderful treat, especially for children.

Varieties

Dwarf. The period from full germination to harvesting greens is 25-30 days. The plant is up to 30-60 cm high. The leaf is large, oval in shape, in adult plants it is hairy and pubescent. Blue flower. The weight of one plant is 200 g.

Vladykinskoe semko. The period from germination to harvesting for greens is 40-45 days. The rosette of leaves is semi-spreading, the leaf is large, oval, heavily pubescent. The stem is erect, branched, thick, with pubescence. The flowers are large, blue in color. Plants are not very demanding on growing conditions.

Brook. The period from full germination to harvesting greens is 40-50 days. The plant is spreading with intensive branching. The rosette of leaves is horizontal, 20 cm in diameter, up to 40 cm in height. The leaf is medium-sized, sessile, dark green, with a slight waxy coating, oblong, slightly wrinkled. Blue flower. Young leaves with soft pubescence. The weight of one plant is 100 g.

Healing properties

Fresh borage leaves have a beneficial effect on digestive system, relieving inflammation in the intestines. By accelerating metabolic processes in the body, toxins are eliminated faster, and this helps improve the condition of the kidneys, liver and blood vessels. The calming properties of borage are also known. Its herb has the ability to relieve attacks of anxiety and irritability. In addition, when regular use Borage reduces joint pain due to arthritis and arthrosis.

Cucumber herb infusion

Take 1 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Take 50-100 ml 3 times a day before meals.

You should not use borage herb daily for a long time - more than one month. This can have a negative impact on the liver.

If you dream of turning to grow on your plot not only ornamental plants, but also medicinal, then take note of the borage plant. The second name of this plant is borage. Young leaves of borage smell amazingly like fresh cucumber. ABOUT healing properties borage was known back in the Middle Ages. Knights had a tradition of entering the battlefield only after drinking a cup of borage tea. They also decorated their armor with this plant, believing that it would bring good luck. The charming annual borage will become a real natural storehouse, which is full of useful properties.

Borago borage. Description of the plant

1. Borage is often called borage, borage, borage.
2. The borage plant belongs to the Borage family.
3. Syria is considered the birthplace of borage. The plant is widespread as a weed in the countries of North Africa, Asia Minor, Southern Europe, V South America.
4. Borago is a herbaceous annual plant that can reach 1 m in height.
5. The stem of borage is branched and straight. A peculiarity of this plant is the presence of hard “hairs” that cover almost the entire plant.
6. The root system of borage is taprooted with numerous lateral roots.
7. The leaves of borage vary slightly in shape depending on where they are located. The basal leaves have oval shape, the leaves at the top are more blunt in shape, the leaves on the stem are ovoid and more elongated. The leaves are covered with exactly the same hard “hairs” as the stem.
8. Borage flowers are beautifully colored Blue colour with a pink tint. They are collected in thyroid-paniculate inflorescences at the very top of the stem. The flower itself consists of 5 sepals.
9. The fruit of borage is a ribbed brown nut. It contains about 1000 small seeds, which fall to the ground after the fruit ripens.
10. The active flowering phase of borage occurs in the summer season - from June to August.

Borago borage. Historical information

Despite the fact that today many people underestimate borage, considering it a weed, in ancient descriptions one can find many references to its beneficial properties and methods of use.

1. IN Ancient Rome borage was added special meaning. Warriors took this plant with them on campaigns in order to increase their strength of spirit and courage.
2. Ancient healers called borage herb “the joy of the heart” because of its amazing healing effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
3. In France, borage was also called "heart flower" and was considered a powerful sedative.
4. Also in France, it was customary to use borage flowers to flavor wines, vinegar, and to decorate dishes.
5. Syria is considered the homeland of borage, from where the plant spread throughout Europe through the Mediterranean countries.
6. In Russia, the borage plant appeared only in the 19th century.

Borago is a borage herb. Beneficial features

Borage has many beneficial properties due to its rich composition. Among the most valuable substances are:

• saponins;
• tannins;
• fatty acid;
• mucous substances;
• essential oil;
• retinol;
• ascorbic acid;
• Apple acid;
• silicic acid;
• lemon acid;
• tannins;
• phosphorus;
• lithium;
• calcium;
• potassium.

As you can see, the chemical composition of the plant is impressive. You can grow borage on your plot not only in decorative purposes, and for medicinal use. Among the beneficial properties of borage are the following:

• fatty acids in borage can have an active anti-inflammatory effect;
• borage enriches the human body with omega-6 acids and other beneficial microelements;
• has long been known in folk medicine beneficial effect borage on gastrointestinal tract person. Mucous substances, which are contained in large quantities in the plant, envelop the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines;
• borage is widely used as a natural laxative and mild diuretic;
• decoctions and teas from cucumber herb are widely used as sedatives. People who suffer from sleep disorders depressive states, nervous people can count on a wonderful effect from taking folk remedies based on borage;
• decoctions and infusions of borage will be useful for people who suffer from digestive disorders due to the high concentration of tannins;
• due to the high concentration of saponins in the chemical composition, borage also has an expectorant effect;
• people suffering from diabetes and obesity can safely use borage oil, which is not contraindicated for them;
• the excellent anti-inflammatory effect of borage is complemented by a mild analgesic effect and the ability to relieve swelling;
• people who suffer arterial hypertension, problems with blood vessels, they can actively use traditional medicine containing borage;
• borage is often used to treat colds as an anti-inflammatory agent;
• borage is also popular in treatment various problems with skin - neurodermatitis, allergic rashes;
• borage has a powerful activating effect on metabolic processes in organism;
• Very often you can find borage in traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of gout.

Despite the fact that borage is a very valuable plant for health, it should be used with caution. Very rarely, this plant can cause an allergic reaction in the body. Long-term ingestion of this herb can cause liver problems.

Use of borage in cooking

• In some countries, borage was originally grown exclusively for food use. The young plant has a pleasant and fresh aroma of cucumber, and its taste may resemble onions. Borago is used to prepare vegetable salads and cold summer soups.
• Salads with young cucumber leaves have gained the most popularity. Required condition it must be that the leaves must be used young. Later leaves also retain the aroma and taste, but become a little tougher and covered with “hairs”.
• Cucumber roots collected in the fall are also eaten. They add an unsurpassed aroma to wines, vinegars, cheeses, sour cream, syrups, etc.
• Borage is often used as a spice. It is added to meat and fish dishes, soups.
• Wonderful “companions” in borage salad are White cabbage, celery, various types of lettuce.
• Fresh leaves and stems of borage can also be served as an independent side dish if you simmer them in a frying pan with a little oil.
• Housewives often use borage to prepare summer homemade lemonades, drinks that perfectly quench thirst in the heat.

Experienced housewives will find great amount recipes containing borage. Among the most popular dishes are:

• borage salad "Summer". Rinse young cucumber leaves thoroughly under running water, dry, cut or tear into pieces by hand. Serve with a dressing of olive oil, salt and black pepper. The salad will be an excellent addition to meat or fish dishes;
• cucumber salad "Spring". To prepare an unusually healthy and tasty salad, you will need several Jerusalem artichoke tubers, fresh carrots, borage. All components can be taken in the ratio you need. Some people prefer Jerusalem artichokes, while others prefer salads with a lot of carrots. The ingredients need to be grated and the borage leaves cut with a knife. Mix the salad and season with a little oil, salt and pepper;
• Stewed cucumber grass. Pick a few young plants, wash them well under running water, cut or tear them into pieces by hand. The borage should first be lightly fried in a small amount of oil, and then simmered in salted water for a couple of minutes. Pass the resulting stew through a sieve and serve with cream sauce or a piece of butter;
• candied borage flowers. Their borage plants can be used to prepare an exotic dessert with which you can surprise your guests and delight your loved ones. Pour a layer of sugar into a clay dish, place borage flowers on top, and then cover with sugar again. Store in a dark place;
• “Refreshing” lemonade. To prepare tasty and healthy drink you will need borage leaves, lemon balm leaves, mint, half a lemon. Mix all ingredients in a blender and add several glasses of cold water. Strain the lemonade through a fine sieve. To add more sweetness to the drink, use maple syrup. Serve lemonade in tall glasses with ice.

The use of borage in cosmetology

Borago grass is widely used in cosmetology. This component can often be found in home recipes for masks, tonics, creams, etc. What a valuable substance found in borage, which is often considered a simple weed? It's all about the huge concentration of fatty acids:

• linoleic acid;
• gamma-linolenic;
• alpha-linolenic;
• oleic

Finding another such affordable source of saturated fatty acids is quite difficult. This feature of borage herb makes it a universal and main component of skin care products. Borage can have the following effects on our skin:

1. moisturizing effect. Borage will undoubtedly benefit dry and dehydrated skin;
2. smoothing effect. Products containing borage herb can even out minor unevenness on the skin, wrinkles, and make the skin color more uniform;
3. restorative effect. Borage has a healing and healing effect on the skin after cosmetic hardware procedures;
4. improvement of metabolic processes in the skin. Owners of fat and problem skin you will immediately notice the elimination of oily shine, the reduction of pimples and blackheads;
5. lifting effect. Borage is known for its rejuvenating effect, giving the skin elasticity.

Natural borage oil can be purchased at cosmetic stores or pharmacies. Like any oil, it should be sold in a dark glass bottle. The shelf life of such a product is short - about 2 months. Borage oil can be used to prepare the following cosmetic recipes:

• healing oil for restoring very dry skin on hands. Mix chamomile, borage and pine nuts in equal proportions, warm them slightly and rub into the skin of your hands;
• nourishing oil bath. You will need all the same ingredients as in the previous recipe. But this time the oil should not be rubbed into the skin of the hands, but immersed in his hands. Of course, the proportions of oil will need to be increased;
• rejuvenating oil compresses. In order to get an excellent lifting effect, mix borage, rosehip, and jojoba oils in equal quantities. Also add a few drops of ylang-ylang and lavender essential oils to the resulting mixture. The resulting mixture can simply be rubbed into the skin every evening, or you can make compresses or fabric face masks.

Use of borage in agriculture

Along with its decorative function, borage also has practical benefits:

• summer residents and beekeepers will be pleased with the fact that after planting cucumber grass, the number of bees has increased. This grass is a good honey plant that attracts the “attention” of bees from afar;
• due to the fact that borage grows on your site, you will notice an increase in yield with fruit trees and bushes. Borage helps in their pollination by bees;
• Many summer residents use borage to combat the Colorado potato beetle, a well-known potato pest.

Borago is a borage herb. Photo

Borago is a borage herb. Planting and care

Choosing a place to plant borage

Borage grows in the wild near roadsides, in vegetable gardens, etc. If you want to achieve maximum decorative value from this plant and use it for food, then you should take care of choosing a place to plant it.

1. One of the best places to plant borage will be the place where potatoes, tomatoes or legumes grew.
2. Borago should not be grown in areas that are too sunny; let it be a place under the spreading crowns of trees, near buildings, fences, which will create shade. When growing borage at home, you don’t have to worry about lighting at all. This plant adapts to growth even in constant shade.
3. Borage is not picky about soil composition. But on fertile soils it achieves excellent taste and good chemical composition, for which it is so valued.
4. When choosing a place to plant borage, prepare for the fact that you will have to limit its growth. The plant rapidly reproduces by self-sowing the following year. To prevent borage from filling the adjacent growth space of other plants, remove the fruit with seeds before it ripens.

Borage - borage. Which variety is better

Of course, borage can often be found in the wild. But only cultivated varieties have excellent taste and aroma, as well as a rich composition. Borage, or borage, can be purchased at almost any large seed store. For self-growing cucumber grass in open ground or at home, most often choose one of the following varieties:

• Vladykinskoe Semko;
• April;
• Okroshka;
• Stream;
• Dwarf.

The most cold-resistant variety is the “Gnome” variety, and the “Vladykinskoe Semko” variety is famous for its large flowers and leaves. This is what most gardeners choose to grow on their site. Finding borage, or borage, seeds is not difficult.

Borage - borage. Growing

Even a beginner can cope with the agricultural technology of growing borage. First, we need to talk about the time of planting this plant. Borago is a cold-resistant plant. Some gardeners even plant it before winter. But the more popular time is early spring. It is in March or early April that you should start preparing for planting borage. If you sow borage again in August, you will get another harvest and beautiful flowering of this plant.

1. It would be a good idea to prepare the soil for planting borage in the fall. Superphosphate and potassium salt are added during digging.
2. In spring, it is also worth digging up the soil, loosening it well and adding ammonium nitrate.
3. Furrows are made in the soil about 3 cm deep. It is advisable to leave a gap of 8-10 cm between the seeds. If you do not do this, then you will have to remove excess bushes. The minimum distance between rows is 35-40 cm.
4. If you are afraid of frost or want to achieve earlier germination of borage, then the bed can be covered with film.
5. After approximately 7 days, the first shoots will appear.

Borago care

Caring for cucumber grass will not present any difficulties even to novice gardeners. Among the minimum actions that you will have to perform are:

• not too much, but regular watering. Although the plant is drought-resistant, you can achieve juicy and fleshy greenery only by watering it regularly;
• weed removal. If you grow borage for decorative purposes, then weeds will only spoil appearance. You need to get rid of them;
• thinning cucumber grass. The distance that needs to be left between borage bushes depends on the purpose for which you are growing it. If you grow borage to obtain lush greens, then leave a distance between plants of about 10 cm. If you grow borage for decorative purposes and to obtain seeds, then the distance should be about 45-60 cm;
• Before the flowering period begins, you can feed the borage with any organic fertilizer.

How and when to harvest borage

• About a month after the first sprouts appear, you can already harvest the first borage crop.
• The most delicious, juicy, aromatic are the very first leaves, which have already reached 5-7 cm in length.
• If you delay harvesting, the leaves will become tougher, covered with a dense layer of “edge”, and will not be as fragrant.
• Harvesting borage is similar to harvesting spinach.
• If the collected borage leaves are placed in wooden boxes, their taste can be preserved for several days. Such boxes should be stored in a cool place.
• Borago seeds are collected when the fruits have turned brown. They are laid out on cloth or paper, where they ripen and dry. Then these fruits will need to be threshed.

Why is borage grown in a greenhouse?

Very often, experienced gardeners plant borage in greenhouses. Why are they doing that? The thing is that borage is an excellent honey plant that attracts bees. The grass is planted in a greenhouse with cucumbers and tomatoes for better pollination. Borage is sown in a greenhouse quite chaotically. The plant also has the ability to crowd out weeds, which is also very useful.

Borago is a borage herb. Growing at home

If you dream of a mini-garden on the windowsill, then the borage plant will be an excellent helper in enriching your diet with aromatic herbs all year round. Follow the following recommendations when growing borage in an apartment:

• The undoubted advantage of growing borage at home is that the plant is not at all capricious in terms of lighting and temperature. It can be grown either in a bright window or in a shady one. But keep in mind that in direct sunlight the leaves quickly become hard;
• select suitable containers for sowing seeds. These can be long containers, boxes or flower pots;
• An excellent filling for containers would be ready-made soil for growing roses, which you can buy in the store. If you prepare a nutritious soil mixture yourself, then mix turf soil and humus. It's also worth adding a little sand;
• to plant seeds on the surface of the ground, make furrows at a distance of about 5 cm from each other;
• There is no need to bury borage seeds. The depth of the furrow is 1.5-2 cm.

The first shoots will delight you in 5-7 days. The plant responds positively to regular feeding.

Borage is one of the most unpretentious plants on the site, but many people do not even know about its beneficial properties, mistaking borage for a weed. Once I tried summer vegetable salad from the succulent leaves of this plant, you will not be able to deny yourself the pleasure of growing borage on your site.

The content of the article:

Borage (borage, vodka, borage, borage) is an annual plant that belongs to the Borage family. The Middle East (Syria) is considered the homeland of Borago, but it can be found in almost every European country, South America and northern Africa. Borage usually reaches about a meter in height, has elliptical leaves, bright blue flowers (with a pinkish tint) and stiff hairs. The very name of the plant suggests that its taste is reminiscent of a cucumber with its unique juicy contents. Voldka lovers also note a sweet onion note when consuming the product.

Composition and calorie content of cucumber

Borage, for all its unpretentiousness and even comparison with a weed, has many useful properties.

The calorie content of borage per 100 g is 21 kcal, of which:

• Proteins - 1.8 g;
• Fats - 0.7 g;
• Carbohydrates - 3.06 g;
• Water - 93 g;
• Ash - 1.44 g.

• Vitamin A - 210 mcg;
• Vitamin C - 35 mg;
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.06 mg;
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.15 mg;
• Vitamin B5 ( pantothenic acid) - 0.04 mg;
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.08 mg;
• Vitamin B9 (folate) - 13 mcg;
• Vitamin B12 (niacin, PP) - 0.9 mg.

• Potassium - 470 mg;
• Calcium - 93 mg;
• Magnesium - 52 mg;
• Sodium - 80 mg;
• Phosphorus - 53 mg.

• Iron - 3.3 mg;
• Manganese - 0.35 mg;
• Copper - 0.13 mg;
• Selenium - 0.9 mg;
• Zinc - 0.2 mg.

• Palmitic - 0.06 g;
• Stearic - 0.02 g.

• Palmitoleic - 0.19 g;
• Erucovaya - 0.02 g.

The composition of borage cucumber herb is useful because it contains the following components:

1. Carotene. Being an excellent antioxidant, this substance is removed from the body free radicals. At the same time, it helps improve human vision.
2. Ascorbic acid. Absorption of iron, stimulation of liver function, normalization of vascular permeability and increased immunity are the main functions of this vitamin.
3. Organic acids. The content of citric and malic acids in borage allows this product to actively participate in the digestive processes.
4. Potassium. The human nervous system needs this element. The cardiac activity of people also depends on it.
5. Tannins (tannins). They have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and hemostatic effects.
6. Mucous substances. Of note is their ability to coat the lining of the stomach, helping it function and resist bacterial attack.
7. Saponins. Chemical data organic compounds reduce the risk of tumor formation.

Useful properties of borage

The beneficial properties of borage are:

• Solving problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Borage is indispensable for gastritis due to the presence of tannins in its composition. Such therapy will not hurt during a systemic failure of intestinal function.
• Anti-inflammatory effect. It is necessary to use both the leaves of this plant and its flowers for food. They reduce not only problems with internal inflammation, but also help fight skin rashes in humans.
• Depressant. Borage tea can fight problems such as depression, panic attacks, nervousness and hysteria. Quite often, experts advise parents to give healing drink to your teenage children during their hormonal changes.
• Treatment of insomnia. Due to the fact that borage has a sedative property, its regular use will help get rid of CFS (syndrome). chronic fatigue) overly impressionable people and workaholics.
• Diuretic. The announced product has soft effect and doesn't call adverse reactions. Experts recommend consuming borage for people who suffer from edema and cystitis.
• Increased lactation. For this purpose, the seeds of the plant are used directly. Getting them is not easy, because you need to collect the desired product in time before it falls off. When storing seeds, it is worth remembering that in most cases they become a favorite treat of rodents.
• Laxative. At chronic constipation It is necessary to stock up on borage due to the presence of a large amount of mucous substances in it, which will relieve a person of a delicate problem.
• Expectorant effect. People with chronic bronchitis and accumulation of sputum in the bronchi simply cannot do without borage. Sometimes it should be combined with other medications if their effect does not live up to expectations.
• Extension of youth. Happening this prevention due to the inclusion of borage gamma-linolenic acid. The long-awaited effect is observed both when taking the plant internally and using it externally in the form of masks and lotions.

Harm and contraindications to borage

In addition, it should be remembered that borage contains a large number of keratin. Its excess with uncontrolled consumption of borage is dangerous due to yellowing of the skin.

When using it together with meat, precautions should also be taken so as not to provoke poisoning of the body.

Pregnant women benefit from borage, but you should play it safe and consult a specialist first.

Note! Contraindications to borage are so limited that there is no need to be afraid to eat it.

How borage is harvested

To get a product suitable for consumption instead of a weed, you should plant it in a shady place. It is necessary to remember the fact that this plant can spread throughout the entire area. It is for this reason that it is necessary to harvest in time before the seeds hit the soil. Cucumber herbs can also be harvested at home, right on the windowsill or balcony.

It is recommended to cut the plant to the very root during its flowering (it is best to choose the very beginning of the indicated period). The product is dried exclusively in a well-ventilated room. This process can also be carried out under a canopy, if moisture definitely does not enter it.

Relatively this issue There is a lot of controversy because famous chefs consider drying borage main reason loss of its taste and it is recommended to consume it fresh.

Recipes for dishes with borage

Borage will be especially tasty in the following dishes:

• Vitaminized salad. Two Jerusalem artichoke tubers must be grated along with three small carrots. Young borage leaves should be added to the resulting mass and seasoned with salad olive oil.
• Hearty salad. To prepare it, boiled tongue (you can replace it with ham) is cut into noodles and mixed with fresh tomato, chopped garlic clove, egg, herbs, borage and mayonnaise. Grated cheese is added to the resulting mixture, and then the salad is decorated with borage flowers.
• Stewed borage. The product must first be crushed, lightly fried in butter and simmered for 3-4 minutes in salted water. The plant, rubbed through a sieve, is then mixed with two stewed zucchini and one steamed carrot. This dish is an excellent side dish for beef or pork.
• Okroshka. No borage recipes would be complete without a description of this cold soup. Beat 750 ml of curdled milk and add to the resulting mass 20 ml of vegetable oil, 30 g of mashed borage leaves, 400 g of chopped cucumbers, two chopped eggs and salt to taste. The sounded components should be poured into 300 ml of chilled boiled water, and also season with dill and ground black pepper. For those who do not like dairy products, yogurt can be replaced with kvass (0.5 liters of drink with the addition of 60 g of boiled beef to the described recipe).
• Special cucumber soup. You must first prepare 0.5 liters of beetroot broth. 2 boiled potatoes should be mixed with 200 g of chopped cucumber, 3 eggs, 300 g of shredded ham (you can replace it with ham), half a can of green peas. The announced ingredients are then poured with beetroot broth.
• Fish with cheese. 1 kg of fillet of any fish (sea fish is better) should be cut into medium-sized pieces, which should be sprinkled with lemon juice. The baking dish must be greased with any vegetable oil and the prepared seafood must be placed on it. 3 heads cut into half rings onions should be fried and placed on top of the pieces laid out on a baking sheet. Two carrots are also heat-treated and laid out in a third layer in a mold. On top of the fish and vegetables you need to evenly distribute 200 g of grated hard cheese. The top layer must be greased with mayonnaise, add spices to taste and bake the dish for 30 minutes. After it is ready, the fish under the cheese is sprinkled with chopped borage.

Drinks with borage are especially popular in the East, but they are also prepared in other countries:

1. Lemonade. To prepare it, you need to mix lemon balm, borage and mint leaves in a mixer, adding the juice of half a lemon and two glasses of water to the listed ingredients. Pour a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup into the strained lemonade.
2. Tea. Place 1 tbsp in boiling water. l. tartar, hawthorn, oregano and borage grass. Tea should steep overnight to become a healthier and more flavorful drink.
3. Borage juice. To make it, only the lower leaves of the plant are taken, which must be turned through a meat grinder. Then the resulting pulp should be diluted with equal doses of boiled water and whey and boiled for 2-3 minutes. This juice can prevent liver problems if consumed in moderation.
4. Borage cocktail. If you want to amaze your guests with an unusual alcoholic drink, you should adhere to certain proportions when making it. It is recommended to mix a small bunch of borage with 100 ml in a mixer lemon juice with then adding a pinch of cinnamon and 25 g of champagne to the poured glasses. You can decorate the resulting cocktail with pineapple slices.

In Rome, a rare warrior did not take borage with him on a long journey, because he believed in his healing power. In addition, it was believed that such a gift of nature could drive away melancholy.

Medieval knights had a peculiar tradition: only after drinking borage tea they were not afraid to go onto the battlefield. Beautiful ladies decorated the armor of their gentlemen with this plant, considering it a reliable amulet.

This herb is especially loved by bees, so it can be called an excellent honey plant. Even in cool weather, it is visited by sounded insects, which brings good income to beekeepers. As a result, they receive light honey and pollen pollen.

In the fight against the Colorado potato beetle, borage has no equal. Pest activity is significantly reduced if potatoes are planted together with it.

If you want to dye a wool product blue, then you can also benefit from borage. To do this, take its aerial part in the form of bright blue petals.

In different national cuisines Borago is used in various ways. In America, the leaves and dried flowers of the plant are preferred. Usually, salads are prepared from them, supplementing cucumber with vegetables and herbs. A dessert made from candied borage flowers is also popular among Americans.

Italians use this product in the preparation of sandwiches, ravioli, salads, fish and meat dishes. Locals also prefer to add it to various spices.

In the East, borage is collected for brewing and creating various hot drinks. In the West, it is widely used in the alcohol industry.

The leaves of this unpretentious plant were also loved by domestic chefs (it became known in the 19th century). It is often included in okroshka, homemade kvass and vinaigrette. Tea with the addition of this herb turns out to be very piquant, but not everyone likes it.

Watch a video about borage borage:

Borage (Borage)- an ornamental and salad plant, a representative of the Borachnikov family. Borage is distributed throughout Europe and is most often mistaken for a common weed. The grass has a straight stem, the leaves are blunt, green, covered with whitish, hard hairs (see photo). Borago has blue flowers, the grass blooms in June-July and is an excellent honey plant.

The homeland of the plant is considered to be Southwestern Europe. Countries that have developed beekeeping grow borage as a honey plant, primarily England and France.

Planting and care

Growing borage is not difficult, as it unpretentious plant. All care for it comes down to regular watering, although even this is not necessary.

Borage reproduces using seeds. Borago should be planted in April-May in an open area in a sunny place, since borage grows especially well there. The plant tolerates drought well.

Beneficial features

Beneficial features borage herb is known in folk medicine. The plant is rich in minerals that have a positive effect on blood composition, strengthen cardiovascular system. Borago leaves are rich in calcium and potassium, which are needed for the nervous system. The plant contains resinous substances, carotene, vitamin C, malic and citric acid, and up to 32% oil.

Borage oil when taken orally
holds immune system, normalizes metabolic processes, improves emotional condition, because they increase the production of joy hormones. Borago contains plant hormones, normalizes the functions of the adrenal glands, this property is especially valuable after taking steroid hormones. The oil helps heal wounds, it effective remedy for gastritis, peptic ulcer stomach, improves blood circulation. Thanks to its gamma-linolenic acid content, the herb helps balance estrogen and progesterone.

In cosmetology, borage oil is used to care for problematic, sensitive skin. Oil increases the skin's ability to retain water and makes it elastic. In body cosmetics, the oil is used in anti-cellulite creams and creams to eliminate stretch marks. This oil holds the record for gamma-linolenic acid content – ​​25%. This acid is effective component anti-aging products, she helps fight premature aging , removes dryness and sagging skin.

The leaves of this herb have diaphoretic and diuretic effects. The flowers of the plant contain a small amount of essential oil. Almost all parts of borage are used in folk medicine; they are used to treat internal inflammation.

The calorie content of borage is 20 kilocalories per 100 grams. The leaves of the plant cover 88% daily requirement body in vitamin A, the leaves are also rich in vitamin C (about 55% of daily norm), contain calcium and iron, 10 and 20 percent of the norm, respectively.

Borage is used to prepare tonic drinks. For this purpose, freshly cut plants or dried borage flowers can be used. Fresh borage leaves are crushed using a meat grinder and then filtered. The resulting juice is taken half a glass 2-3 times a day. Tonic tea is prepared from hawthorn fruits, borage herbs, oregano, and tartar. All ingredients are taken in 1 teaspoon, herbal mixture pour boiling water over it and let it brew for one night. It is recommended that people prone to depression take 0.1 liter of tonic tea twice a day.

Use in cooking

In cooking, the plant has found wide use in American cuisine. Borago leaves are used for gastronomic purposes, sometimes dried flowers. Borage is used as a herb. Herb leaves are added to a variety of salads, most often combined with cucumbers, spinach, onions, and lettuce varieties.

The flowers are used as a natural flavoring for fruit soft drinks and punch. Drinks with the addition of borage taste very fresh and have a slight cucumber flavor. Dried blue borage flowers are used to make an independent dish; candied flowers are consumed as a dessert. Freshly cut flowers are mixed with whipped egg white and powdered sugar, then lightly dried. Borage flowers are added to baked goods and also used in confectionery. In addition to using sugaring technology, flowers are also aged in wine. Cocktails are decorated with borage flowers before serving. Borage flowers, due to their taste, are widely used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages.

The aroma of fresh borage leaves is vaguely reminiscent of the smell of fresh cucumber, as evidenced by one of its names. Borage is added to various dishes; fried fish and minced meat go well with borage. Borage tastes very pleasant, its leaves are salty, slightly reminiscent of the taste of sweet onions. The ground plant is added as a seasoning to meat dishes, sauces, fish and vegetable dishes.

In Italy, borage is used as a filling for ravioli. Leaves are added to butter, thus obtaining a delicious sandwich mixture. Borago goes well with such spicy aromatic herbs as mint and thyme. Grass is included natural mixtures seasonings, to which garlic and parsley are also added.

To eat, young borage leaves must be thoroughly washed and cut into small pieces so that its villi are not felt. Cooks do not recommend scalding fresh borage leaves: this will cause them to lose their color and taste. Drying also has a bad effect on this plant. Borage should be added at the end of cooking; for example, it is better to add borage to stewed meat or fish before serving.

Borage leaves can successfully replace cucumber in some culinary recipes. For this purpose, borage can be added, for example, to okroshka or vinaigrette. Borage flowers are added when preparing homemade kvass and tea.

Benefits of borage and treatment

The benefits of borage allow you to use this herb against various ailments. Fresh borage leaves are used for skin problems and rheumatism. Dried leaves can be used as a mild laxative. Borage is used for heart neuroses; it is taken to increase the tone of the body. Borage is used for diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder, and liver.

The flowers, leaves and seeds of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. The grass should be harvested during its flowering period; the plant is cut off almost to the very root, and the lower wilted leaves are thrown away. Borage should be dried in a ventilated place. Grass seeds are more difficult to collect because they quickly fall off and often become food for rodents if left to dry indoors.

Due to its mucilage content, borage has an enveloping property. Internal reception borage has a beneficial effect on the immune system, helps with urolithiasis, gout, cough. Borage is used in folk medicinal recipes to support the nervous system, with anxiety, fears, insomnia.

An infusion for oral administration is prepared on the basis of borage. A tablespoon of dried herb is poured into a glass of boiling water and then infused. The infusion is not stored for a long time, it should be drunk during the day in small portions. The infusion has a positive effect on the nervous system and has calming properties. For the treatment of gastritis, kidney inflammation and Bladder use an infusion of borage flowers. For infusion you need to pour 5 grams of borage flowers into 200 ml hot water and insist. The infusion can be taken after 6 hours; it is also effective for heart diseases.

Harm from borage and contraindications

Borage can cause harm to the body due to individual intolerance to the product, uncontrolled use, or violation of the specified dosages. In any case, you should consult your doctor.

borage is a flowering annual plant native to Syria, the leaves of which smell like fresh cucumbers. Other names for borage: borage, borage, borage, heart flower etc. In most cases, this plant is perceived as a weed, because grows almost everywhere - along roadsides, in vacant lots, landfills, vegetable gardens, etc. However, in Western Europe, borage is grown as a vegetable plant, and has also been used since ancient times as a folk plant. medical product. Let's find out how borage is useful and whether it can cause harm to health.

Borage is a stiff-haired plant with a stem length reaching 1 meter, which blooms with fairly large five-petaled dark blue flowers. Flowering time – June – August. After this, a fruit is formed - an oblong tuberculate nut.

The chemical composition of the leaves contains the following substances:

• ascorbic acid;
• lemon acid;
• Apple acid;
• microelements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.);
• mucous substances;
• tannins;
• saponins;
• tannins.

Borago flowers contain essential oil and mucilage.

Useful properties and uses of borage (borage)

It is known that borage is used in homeopathy for the preparation of various medicines, and is also part of some dietary supplements. It is recommended to add borage leaves to food, which not only improves the taste of dishes, but also contributes to the following:

• improvement of digestion processes;
• normalization of metabolic processes in the body;
• prevention inflammatory processes in the intestines and kidneys;
• excretion;
• calming the nervous system;
• normalization of work and strengthening of blood vessels.

The benefits of borage are not limited to this. The plant also has a mild laxative effect, has a diuretic, diaphoretic and enveloping effect, helps with various types pain – rheumatic, muscular, gouty, etc.

Young borage can be used as an additive to vinaigrettes, sauces, side dishes, okroshka, cold vegetable soups, meat and fish dishes. Ripe leaves can be used like spinach - stewed, boiled and fried, as well as in pickles and marinades. Flowers can be used fresh or candied as a delicacy, and oil can be prepared from borage roots, which is added to cheeses, syrups, essences, cold drinks, and wines.

Dishes with cucumber herb will be useful for women who want to lose weight. Due to its low calorie content and the ability to improve metabolic processes in the body, this plant will help you quickly get rid of extra pounds.

The plant can also be used as an external remedy for the preparation of anti-aging folk remedies for the face - masks, lotions. Both fresh and dried young leaves are suitable for this. From a decoction prepared from the leaves, you can apply compresses to help relieve painful sensations and promoting speedy healing for injuries and In cosmetology, borage seed oil is used, which has a beneficial effect on the skin.

Harm and contraindications of borage

Any plant can have not only benefits, but also harm, and borage is no exception. It should be consumed in moderation, because... long-term use V large quantities may negatively affect liver function. Therefore, it is not recommended to use this plant for more than a month - you should take short breaks.