Drinking borage tea has been a common practice in Europe for centuries, but brewing a tea from this common weed can have some impressive health benefits!
What is Borage Tea?
Borage tea is an herbal tea brewed from the leaves and stem of the borage plant, an annual herb that bears the scientific name Borago officinalis. [1]This same plant is also commonly known as starflower, and its extract and its oilseed is the primary reason for its cultivation in recent decades. That being said, borage tea is still used for medicinal purposes, as it has a wide range of antioxidants and active ingredients, ranging from beta-carotene, gamma-linoleic acid and choline to vitamin C, potassium and iron.
The plant’s leaves are covered in irritating spines, so the leaves must always be boiled before being used, which lends itself naturally to being made into a tea! [2]
This tea is best when used for short periods of time since an excessive amount of this tea can cause some toxicity from certain alkaloids present in the leaves.
The medicinal Indian borage is equally great in beer and with butter. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Borage Tea Benefits
Borage tea has an impressive list of health benefits which include:
- Relieving stress
- Fighting insomnia
- Reducing inflammation
- Alleviating symptoms of arthritis
- Normalizing hormone levels
- Detoxifying the body
- Boosting immunity
- Reducing fever and soothing cough
- Alleviating menstrual cramps
The primary benefits of borage tea include its ability to detoxify the body and reduce stress, while also balancing hormonal levels. The high concentration of vitamin C means that it is good for the immune system, and can also reduce unnecessary inflammation throughout the body, thus lowering your risk of developing chronic diseases. Some people use this tea to lower fever and also speed the healing process. [3]
For women’s health, using this tea in moderation may ease menstrual discomfort. It can also affect the hormones that affect our sleep patterns, thus helping to alleviate insomnia. With the various antioxidants present in this tea, it is also associated with lower levels of oxidative stress and a reduced risk of various health conditions. [4]
How to Make Borage Tea
You can make borage tea very easily at home. Follow the simple instructions given below to make this herbal infusion at home.
Borage Tea Recipe to Manage Stress
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of fresh or freshly dried borage leaves
- 2 cups of water
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
Instructions
- To make borage tea, boil 2 cups of hot water in a saucepan. Steep a 1/4 cup of fresh or freshly dried leaves of the borage plant in hot water.
- Allow the leaves to steep for 5-10 minutes before straining and serving warm.
- You can add honey if desired.
Notes
Borage Tea Side Effects
Some of the side effects of this tea include:
- Complications of pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin inflammation and rashes
- Excess consumption of this tea can be dangerous for the liver [5]
