It hasn’t been an easy ride for any of us over these past months and the changes in the world have brought up a lot of different emotions in us all.

It is completely normal to be feeling anxious, worried, stressed, lonely, sad, or even depressed at this time. So, please don’t beat yourself up for having any of these feelings.

We are still in challenging times and there is lots of uncertainty, which can make us feel concerned about the future, which in turn brings up all sorts of unwanted emotions!

Our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health and they are all interlinked, so one can impact the other easily.

I decided to write this article, even though I am not a herbalist, as I found Borage to be incredibly helpful to me during a particularly tough time, so wanted to share its benefits.

There are many helpful herbs for depression, sadness, and anxiety, but I found Borage to lift my mood within about an hour of taking a teaspoon of the oil!

Borage oil is like a shoulder to lean on when you are feeling low, sad, anxious, depressed or just not feeling like yourself. It is best used in conjunction with working through your emotions, and of course, reaching out to others for help by talking about your feelings and getting the support you need.

What is Borage?

Borago officinalis was known by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a potent medicinal herb guaranteeing courage in battle!

Nowadays, these plants tend to be grown more for their ornamental and culinary value. Their pretty blue flowers add colour and flavour to summer drinks, while the young leaves are sometimes included in salads.

Borage flowers are particularly attractive to bees – after a bee has visited a flower it refills with nectar within two minutes, which makes borage a great pollinator-friendly plant. It can be toxic to cats, dogs and horses though, so please check before planting!

Borage is also known as Burrage, Common Bugloss, and Starflower.

What is Borage Oil?

Borage oil is created by cold pressing the seeds of the borage plant.

Borage oil is the richest known source of gamma-linolenic acid (also known as GLA), which is an extremely beneficial fatty acid.

It is said Borage can regulate the body’s immune system and help fight joint inflammation.

“The traditional use of ‘Borage for Courage’ suggests that it has a supportive effect on the adrenal glands. It has since been confirmed that the plant encourages the production of adrenaline which helps the body cope with stressful situations, as well as possibly acting as a restorative agent on the adrenal cortex.

Clinical trials have shown that borage seed oil reduces cardiovascular reactivity to stress by reducing the systolic blood pressure and heart rate and by increased task performance.

A hormonal effect is indicated by a traditional belief that the leaves and seeds of the plant can increase the milk supply of nursing mothers; it is also said to improve mood in menopausal depression.”

Source: Purple Sage

There are many benefits to Borage oil, including its ability to lower inflammation, soothe pain, lower stress levels, reduce blood sugar, protect heart health, improve female health, decrease skin disorders, aid in weight loss, prevent chronic disease, calm hyperactivity, and lower respiratory distress.

The main one for me is it helps to lift my mood naturally, but if you suffer from any of the above issues, then Borage could also be helpful to you in other ways!

I buy my Borage oil from Pure Oils, this is a link to the unrefined cold-pressed oil I use. I hope this article is interesting and useful to you as I am a big believer in natural remedies where possible!

Please be aware, Borage oil may cause side effects, especially if you are taking certain medications or if you are pregnant. Before using Borage oil, either topically or internally, please speak to your Doctor to make sure it is safe for you.

Thank you for reading and sharing my posts and for buying me lots of coffee (purple coffee cup!) to help me run this blog and keep it ad-free! I am incredibly grateful for your support.

If you would like a little support on your journey, please check out the services I offer. I look forward to connecting with you.

Blissful Blessings,

Sarah x

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Copyright © Sarah Shepherd of Blissfully Free. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share my articles, but please reference a working link back to the article. Thank you.