Borage is low in calories, since it contains few proteins and practically no lipids. It supplies with vitamin A and C, apart from iron and potassium. It has diuretic and laxative properties.

Borage contains water, few proteins and carbohydrates and very few lipids.

Borage contains iron and potassium in significant amounts, conferring the leaves and flowers their diuretic properties. It contains magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B2, as well.

The borage flowers contain mucilage, a substance used to treat colds, influenza with fever and bronchitis with dry cough. It helps to fight constipation, too.

For many years, borage has been intended for medicinal purposes, using both the leaves as the flowers. It is thought to be diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory and depurative, among other qualities. The application varies from poultices to infusions or juices.

Historically, borage has been given medicinal properties, and the old phytotherapists already recommended the flowers for their depurative and diaphoretic properties in case of fever.

Locally applied, the fresh leaves soften the skin and increase the tissues elasticity. The scalded leaves are used to make poultices that accelerate the maturation of boils. The fresh leaves juice is useful to treat hepatic ailments.

Other medicinal uses are the flower’s infusions with diaphoreic purposes, the poultices, used to heal burns, infusions, intended for bronchial colds and the borage tea, used to fortify the heart.