INCI Name: Borago officinalis
Plant Family: Boraginaceae (from the same Viper Bugloss family)
Viper's Bugloss is from the same family as Boraginaceae. The ancestors gave the name because poisons and venom were expelled from the plant, and the bites of a viper were healed.
Viper's bugloss is easily found plant without an effort because it's an undemanding one. It's got a lot of pollen and nectar, and bees like it. The honey, sadly, isn't that safe.
However, Borage flowers are edible, and their alkaloids are not toxic and are much enjoyed due to their cool cucumber flavour.
In both traditional and modern medicine, Borago officinalis L. is used. In beekeeping, because of a widely spread wildflower, it offers high quantities of both nectar and pollen.
The nectar of this honey is derived from the Starflower, the other name of this blue flower, described with a star shape of dark leaves inside of the blossom.
It retained high respect in the history of mankind. It had remarkable advantages by the ancient Greeks, who used it as a powerful sedative.
In the middle ages, the plant was also used by Europeans to prepare teas and syrups as they felt that it helped alleviate sadness/depression.
Borage flowers are cultivated around the world today. They are beautiful and easily pollinated to produce the delicious and renowned Borage honey by honeybees.
The amount of nectar and pollen these flowers produce is huge in the warm summer.
New Zealand and Oregon are the most demanded origins of Borage honey, and it is cultivated on the South Island of New Zealand.
The Borage plant, however, is commercially cultivated all over the world. The Pacific Northwest of the United States and East Yorkshire of the United Kingdom are the most common sources to produce Borage honey in commercial quantities.
It is a very distinctive and transparent type of honey with a pale colour. It has a light, sweet taste and flavour.
Borage honey is mainly valued as a food item. It has a sweet taste, unique colour, clarity and gentle aroma that make it amazing for many foods & beverages as a topping. It is used in savoury cooking and baking as well. For bread & cakes, many use it as a substitute for sugar. And of course, Borage honey if eaten like toffee will not be a surprise!
Benefits of Borage Honey
As we have read earlier that the ancient Greeks used these flowers as a sedative and Europeans used it in tea and syrup to calm the restless mind and comfort the body.
It eliminates melancholy, ease agony and drive away sorrows and increase the happiness, courage and comfort.
It has anti-inflammatory properties and taken as health supplements and flower essence for its cooling, cleansing and refreshing properties. It is commonly used in homoeopathic remedies for diuretic and kidney/bladder disorders.
It is used for gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions that are hyperactive.
It is also widely used to treat cramps, diarrhoea, and to purify the blood.
Great for irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis.
It possesses anti-cancer properties.
It has the most potent concentration of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA), and is a strong aid for various cancers, including breast, brain and prostate cancers.
It prevents malignant tumours from spreading by limiting the development of blood vessels.
Treatment of signs of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause, such as a hot flash.
It contains twice as much gamma-linoleic acid as evening primrose.
This plant has the most potent concentration of GLA found in nature.
It soothes skin inflammation and cures it.
It is ideal for bites and stings of insects, prevents swelling and bruises, and is often used to clear up rashes and boils.
It is a plant which is used heavily in cosmetics.
For children, it creates a known formula, as it soothes and relieves dry skin.
Creams, lotions (especially for dry skin treatment), facial moisturizer, hand creams, eye creams, conditioners, and so on are also available.
By encouraging sweating, curing colds, dry cough, throat irritation, chest colds, and bronchitis, it relieves fever.
This is useful for a hangover.
This helps improve the adrenal glands.
The benefits rely on raw honey. Filtered or pasteurized honey can break down and reduce these advantages.
The above-provided information is purely based on my own research and study, and hope this is a useful resource for you!
We’d also love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!!!
Please like and comment.
*****************
