GOAZBAN (Urdu), BORAGE
Borage or
Boragio officinalis, to give it its official Latin name, is believed to have originated in the southern Mediterranean area, and some writers have claimed that it comes from Aleppo. Whatever the case it has been naturalized in many parts of the world and it is believed that there are more than fifty species of this plant.
We know from Dioscorides that was used to make a cooling drink and Pliny tells us that it is a “euphorosinum” which means a plant of euphoria or extreme joy. In Welsh it is called
llanwenlys or herb of gladness. It is also supposed to be the Nepenthe of Homer which, when steeped in wine brought about total forgetfulness. Romans would put the flowers and leaves in their wine and this was very popular. It was also used to give a man the courage to propose marriage, as it has long been believed that borage is the herb of courage.
Like
lavender, borage has a natural calming effect so could be used in oil form to revive women who succumbed to hysteria in older times. Now it is probably best known as an ingredient for Pimms No1 (gin based) which is a cooling alcoholic summer drink. Borage has a slight cucumber flavour so is excellent to put in summer punches, be they alcoholic or not, as it is a natural coolant.
Goazban (the Urdu name for borage) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as an expectorant, demulcent, diuretic, cardiac tonic, coolant, laxative, diaphoretic, emollient and febrifuge. It is said to relieve restlessness in fever suffers and stop functional palpitations of the heart, and often prescribed as a diuretic to relieve cystitis and other irritations of the urinary tract. It is also given in cases of bronchial ailments, dry coughs, colds, catarrh and is said to relieve asthma attacks. It is also prescribed for rheumatism, some symptoms of syphilis, probably skin irritations and leprosy.
Modern medical research has found that borage oil contains Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids which are crucial for brain functions as well as growth and development. In the West, people typically don’t get enough of the Omega fatty acids in their diets. These lift depression (as does borage) and help our sexual health as well as general health. These fatty acids can stimulate hair growth, maintain bone health and regulate our metabolism.
Omega-6 fatty acids in our diets normally come in the form of linoleic acid (LA). This is converted to GLA (Gamma-Linoleic-Acid) by the body and this can come from borage oil. It has a higher GLA content than Evening Primrose oil which is more commonly used in nutritional supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids convert to DGLA which is effective in fighting inflammation, so borage oil is especially useful. If GLA is taken over time there is growing evidence to support the use of GLA to reduce nerve pain. There is also some medical evidence to show that this can also help in cases of breast cancer. GLA reduces stress and borage seed oil can be used to treat skin problems such as eczema and dermatitis successfully.
Leucotrienes are produced from the GLA found in borage oil, and these hormone-like substances can help reduce cholesterol levels, cause dilation of the blood vessels (necessary for the male reproductive system to work efficiently) as well as reducing inflammation in the joints.
Borage leaves can be boiled and left to cool so that the water can be used as an eyewash, or to help tired eyes, in the same way as a slice of cucumber can. If you boil the leaves or leaves and flowers, you can use the steam to revitalize dry, sensitive skin too.
In cookery the leaves can be eaten raw in a salad and the leaves are tasty steamed or sautéed in the same way as you sauté spinach. The stems can be steamed too with the leaves or sautéed or substituted for celery. The leaves and stems go well with poultry, fish, cheese and vegetable dishes and the flowers can be put in salads or used as a garnish. They can also be candied and used to decorate cakes. As a herb, borage goes well with
dill,
mint and
garlic. If the leaves are added to
pea or
bean soup they give the finished soup a different flavour, and as they have traditionally been used as a pot herb you can boil
potatoes etc with them. The leaves and flowers are good added to red wine especially if it isn’t a very good one - they make it more palatable. You can make hot or cold tisanes with the leaves, typically 1 oz of fresh leaves to a pint of boiling water and leave to steep for 15 minutes before straining. Add sugar and
lemon juice to taste. However don’t drink too much as borage has a laxative effect.
In Pakistan there is a medicine called khamira goaz:ban which we would have liked to give you the recipe for, but it is made with gemstones and would be very difficult for a lay person to make. It’s used as an aid for recovery after any debilitating disease and can be used daily to boost the body’s energy levels. It is also used to treat depression and to boost the brain’s activity. I think you can buy it online, but that may only be for the subcontinent. You can also find it Asian shops in Britain.
If you dry the borage flowers, they can be added to pot pourris too. The borage plant is very versatile.
CUCUMBERS WITH BORAGE
Ingredients
3 large
cucumbers
½ pint soured cream
(or single cream with a tsp of lemon juice added and stirred into it)
2 tbsps red wine vinegar
½ tsp crushed
coriander seeds
½ bunch spring onions, finely chopped
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup fresh young borage leaves
salt and
pepper to taste
Method
Salt the cucumbers and leave to drain upside down for half and hour. You should remove the seeds too.
Mix the other ingredients together.
Rinse the salt from the cucumbers and pat dry with absorbent paper. Thinly slice them.
Mix the cucumbers into the other ingredients, garnish with borage flowers and chill for an hour before serving.
This has Taste and is a Treat.
SAFED MUSLI, CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM, ASPARAGUS ADSCENDENS
It is used as an Allopathic, which means that a disease is treated with remedies which produce effects differing from those produced by the disease, for example antibiotics do this. The word come from the Greek, allos meaning different or other, and pathos, meaning suffering. The term allopathic or allopath was first used by the man who is regarded as the founding father of homeopathic medicine, Samuel Hahnemann.
It is also given to boost the immune system and modern medical research has borne out this use of it. Chlorophytum borivilianum has immuno-stimulating properties and it has been proved that increases rats’ sperm count after 60 days of being given regular doses of it. The researchers end their discussion with these words “roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum can be useful in the treatment of certain forms of sexual inadequacies, such as premature ejaculation and oligosperma” (R. Kenjale et al 2008 in Phytotherapy Research Vol 22(6)). In other words, rats have benefited from this plant and shown increased sexual activity and increased libido as well as having a “significantly” higher sperm increase. It is believed that this is the Natural Viagra and is now being cultivated on a much larger scale than before so that it can be exported for the benefit of men all around the world. It has been used as a tonic for sexual health by Indians or centuries and they believe it is an aphrodisiac for both sexes.
It clearly has amazing medical properties and modern medical research is showing once again that the old herbalists knew a thing or two about health giving plants.
