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 Post subject: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:00 pm 
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Aniya Gatekeeper wrote:
Merry meet!

I've only been a member of magicka for a bit more than a month now. I am extremely pleased with the courses, the ethics shown throughout all, and was happy with the aprilzine. But i have to say i am very disappointed with one article in the mayzine: The Borage article.

I would query the author: Did you actually investigate borage & it's history, traditional and modern uses? Are you aware of it's extensive medicinal and culinary useage? I realize that most authors will of necessity write what they know, and include their own experiences, but for educational purposes of this site, a bit more explanation or perhaps fair judgement should have been required and put into your work.

I would also question the editor's of the 'zines': Do you check & verify what your authors write? To answer your inquiry as to why i'd ask these questions, a simple wikipedia or other search on 'borage' would give you a Much more comprehensive understanding than the limited and biased one that the author of the borage did in your mayzine or that I could do simply by typing (which would take up far too much space and time).

And finally, no mention of the actual magickal uses or properties was made of the delightful, little-but powerful and Edible blue flower and/or it's leaves!

I hope and expect that any other posts i may make, or inquires will be of a happier and more positive outlook than this one!

Blessed be!

Ani


Hopefully, we can use your criticism as a impetus to have you and others share some of your knowledge with us...

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:04 pm 
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Quote:
And finally, no mention of the actual magickal uses or properties was made of the delightful, little-but powerful and Edible blue flower and/or it's leaves!


I missed the ezine article, but I hope we can all learn more about this magical medicinal herb. Here's the basics of what I know:

Names: Borage, Bugloss, Borago Officinalis

Parts Used: Leaves, flowers and stems

Serving Borage: The leaves taste a little like cucumber and are used raw in salads or cooked like spinach. Eat the stems like celery. Candy the leaves and flowers and serve as dessert or as a garnish. Tea is the simplest way to serve borage.

Magical Properties: Courage, psychic powers. Borage is known as a masculine plant associated with the planet Jupiter and the Air element.

Magical Usages: Carry borage blossoms to strengthen your courage. Borage tea is said to give and strengthen psychic powers.

Of course, this is still not an in depth posting, but there is no word limit here, I'd like to know more about this herb, the dosages and any possible harmful effects from different parts of the plant. Someone, anyone??? Let's get it going!

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:04 pm 
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Borage is also good for stress,mental exhaustion and depression. External use is said to defer wrinkles and dry skin caused by age.
Preparation of tea is 1 teaspoon to 1 cup boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes. Half to 1 cup 3 times a day.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:40 pm 
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Also, I found that it's associated with the astrological sign of Leo. It's often grown to attract bees as well.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:39 pm 
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This is some great info. I have Borage growing in my garden and would like to do some things with it. I do have a recipe for borage soup that I may try. I was wondering about making a tincture, would I use leaves or flowers or both? Any thoughts would be very appreciated. Also for the tea, do you just use the leaves?

Thanks and Blessings.

Peeb

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:53 am 
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Please post your recipe for the borage soup. It sounds great since the stalks taste like celery and the leaves like cucumbers, it should be very tasty!

I was just reading about it in Back to Eden as well as my Culpeppers. There is not a lot more to add except that the seeds are used as well, soaked in wine, for nursing mothers (with a note about keeping alcohol to a minimum when breastfeeding). Also the tea can be used as an expectorant or an eyewash. Fresh leaves seem to be preferable. One book said never use dried.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:05 am 
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The part about giving it to nursing mothers probably comes from the fact that Borage is an old Italian remedy to increase the breast milk.

I can only find reference to using the leaves for tea.
The main use of the seeds seems to be to extract the oil from them. The oil, when combined with evening primrose oil can be used to reduce cholesterol deposits.

Tincture of Borage

1ounce of cut herb (leaves) to 20oz (1 pint) 45% alcohol ( I usually use vodka for tinctures).
Macerate (an ordinary blender will do). Shake daily for 4 days, then filter it and bottle it.
Recommended dosage is 1-2 teaspoons in water.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:45 pm 
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Probably not in the spice section but likely in the health food store bulk herbs section. Try this image:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=borage+plant&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1440&bih=799&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=O66fUCAldXPwqM:&imgrefurl=http://livingearthcreations.wordpress.com/shop/borage-tsuchi-dango/&docid=iDqUvOlxwjo2zM&imgurl=http://livingearthcreations.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/borage-flowers.jpg&w=320&h=317&ei=vb-lTsfrCsT5sQKskJC9BQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=174&vpy=170&dur=1796&hovh=223&hovw=226&tx=121&ty=129&sig=106852811073744577423&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=134&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:53 pm 
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There pretty!!

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:35 pm 
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This is all some really useful information. I've looked in all my herbals and have found nothing on it!

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:17 am 
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A useful little plant, it seems! :cleo:

Blessings,
willow~moon

[edit: but please read about the possibilities of toxicity below...]


Last edited by willow~moon on Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:16 am 
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Thanks for all the info everyone. I will post the Borage recipe as soon as I try it and I will definitely make some tea and tincture, so I guess I will be busy this weekend. I will also take a photo of my plant out there in my garden and try to figure out how to post it as well. It really does grow into a very large sprawling plant but does have very pretty and dainty little blue flowers. The Honey bees also just love it!

Blessings.

Peeb

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:19 pm 
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I've just read the article in Mayzine.

It includes a warning about toxicity to the liver (if ingested). Also, some may have allergic skin reactions when coming into contact with the plant. I think for this reason the author has labelled Borage as 'unsafe' in their personal journal (based on their personal experience) but states that others have had no reaction...

Valid advice, & best to be aware of that, methinks!

There's a paragraph explaining the specifics of its toxicity at Livestrong.com


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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:20 pm 
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The toxicity issues are with Borage Oil. Using the leaves for tea and to make a tincture do not have the same toxicity issues.

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 Post subject: Re: Borage Article
 Post Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:36 pm 
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I found a nice bulk herb site to order from and they do carry borage leaves:

http://www.herbalcom.com/store.php3?list=cats&session=ea358fa4e52e4bc837d3472fa4399027

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