Grassy annual plant with oval, strongly pubescent leaves and small blue inflorescences is known to every European. The people borage for the outgoing aroma of cucumbers is called borage or cucumber herb. And in scientific literature the name borage is found, since the culture is from the Burachnikov family. Some are happy to see some kind of shaggy decoration in their garden, others consider the plant nutritious and use it in salads. But there are those who consider it a weed. What actually is borago, what makes borage grass valuable and what useful properties it has - let's try to figure it out.
Beneficial features
Borago has not yet been recognized as official medicine, but the composition of the plant has been investigated under laboratory conditions. In him detected carotene, saponin, silicic and ascorbic acids, as well as resinous and tannins. 
The stems and foliage of a crop are 30 percent composed of mucus and essential oil. It is these components that traditional healers have evaluated for enveloping, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic and softening properties. Grass is used together with flax seeds and althea.
In folk medicine, borage treatment is practiced for rheumatism, sore throats and colds, skin rashes and bladder diseases. There are many medicinal recipes using borage for stimulating metabolic processes in the human body, improving appetite, cleansing the blood system.
It is believed that the annual consumption of borage salads protects the internal organs from inflammation, contributing to their full functioning.
Did you know? During the day, one flower of borage grass in nectar produces more than 2 mg of sugar, and the honey productivity of this plant exceeds 400 kg per hectare.
Cultivation
Borage does not require much effort for its existence. He adapts well to any conditions. In its natural form, it can be found on the roadsides, wastelands and even in the gardens. But only cultivated specimens, which receive moisture and fertilizing in a timely manner, have excellent taste and nutritional composition. 
Home annuals need to be monitored. Otherwise, it will spread to the entire site, displacing other cultures. We will understand the details of planting borage, ways to always have fresh cucumber grass and the intricacies of its cultivation.
Landing
Borage planting plan in the first decade of April. The main thing is that the earth is well warmed up, otherwise the seeds may not ascend. In the soil, rows of 3 cm in depth are made and grains are dropped into them at intervals of 10 cm. The length of the rows between rows is about 25 cm. With steadily warm weather, the first shoots will appear in a week. When the crops in the rows begin to thicken, they must be thinned and, of course, cleaned of weeds.
Important! If you plan to use the young foliage of borage, the distance in the rows between the bushes should not exceed 25 cm. If you are interested in seeds and flowers, thinning, leave the stems through 75 cm.
The feature of borage is that it is used only in fresh, and do not allow the collected raw materials for a long time lay. 
Benefit from it will be if you eat freshly picked leaves and stems. Therefore, many gardeners share the experience of conveyor sowing of seeds every 15 days. Thus, borage will be in your diet throughout the summer season.
Care
For development borage does not need to create additional conditions. In the protracted heat it is necessary to water it and at least occasionally loosen the ground between the rows. At the beginning of the growing season, the grass will gratefully accept a nitrogen-containing supplement from a solution of chicken manure infusion. As the bushes grow, the crops need to thin out and collect seeds in time. Otherwise, a thicket of shaggy borage is formed on the site.
Important! The borage, sown on a potato bed, inhibits the activity of the Colorado beetles. In cases of such a neighborhood, up to 95 percent of root vegetables are stored.
Collecting leaves and seeds
For therapeutic and culinary purposes use only young leaves with tender fleshy pulp. Older specimens are no longer suitable for this, because every day their surface becomes hard and bristly. Therefore, it is advisable to collect the foliage in the first 2-3 weeks of life of the plant. 
The period of collecting flowers and seeds more stretched. Borage blooms in early July and blooms until autumn. This is how long the continuous maturation of the seed lasts, and ripe samples do not linger long in the seed box and pour into the ground. Thus, self-seeding is obtained, which will ensure the growth of the crop for the next year, but at the same time, going out of control, will turn the planting into prickly weed thickets up to 1 meter high.
Based on these features of borago, the harvesting of seed materials should be handled carefully and in a timely manner throughout July, August and September. To do this, gardeners use paper caps, which are shaken ripe seeds daily. And in order to avoid arbitrary semen getting into the ground, pristvolnye holes are covered with cellophane. The flowers are cut off in the measure of their full disclosure.
Did you know? Roman soldiers added borage to wine. This drink helped them get rid of the fear of battle, to gain courage and courage. Soon, such a drink was served at all the feasts, so that the guests would not hurt and not miss.
Cooking Application
Cucumber herb has found its use in the kitchen due to its fresh-cucumber-like aroma and subtle taste of a mixture of young onion feathers and cucumber pulp. 
For culinary preparations use fresh foliage, which is not more than a week. The pulp cleaned from hairy peel is added to various salads, drinks, soups, sauces, side dishes, borscht, okroshka.
Meat and fish dishes are sometimes spiced with borage roots to add flavor. Also, the roots of the plants are an excellent raw material for the manufacture of green oil. It is added to cheese, sour-milk products and cold drinks.
Surprisingly, hyssop, chervil, sow thistle, quinoa, oregano, nasturtium have found use in cooking.
Many use borage as a greenery. For example, chopped leaves are generously sprinkled on boiled potatoes, which are seasoned with sour cream or another sauce.
Blue inflorescences in cooking play a role not only beautiful decoration of dishes, but also a useful ingredient. They are used fresh, dried and candied. 
Often housewives use flowers for domestic wines, liqueurs and liqueurs. Very aromatic tea is obtained from them.
Important! Borage salads are rich in vitamins, so they are recommended to prevent inflammation in the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to improve the functioning of the circulatory system, liver, gall bladder.
Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
In cosmetology, the annual has also played an important role. Many beauties prefer cosmetic products based on borage oil, which have rejuvenating and toning properties.
Its advantages are also in the beneficial effects on dry, dehydrated, fading and sensitive skin. 
The drug is suitable for everyone, getting into the epidermis, it promotes cell regeneration, smoothes fine wrinkles, gives the skin a healthy look. Such a component is simply necessary for recovery after aggressive cosmetological procedures of the type of dermabrasion, chemical peelings.
We recommend to get acquainted with the beneficial properties of the oils of prickly pear, clove, bergamot, lavender, rose, rosehip, fir.
Borage oil in cosmetology used to treat hair, nails, dermatitis, as well as dandruff. The tool can be found in any pharmacy, it is recommended both in pure form and in mixtures with other essential oils. By the way, Omega-3, Omega-6 and phytohormones are found in borage oil.
For example, to normalize the work of the sebaceous glands of the head and face, a mask is made of 1 tsp of borage oil, 4 drops of tea tree oil, 5 drops of lemon juice. All ingredients are well mixed and applied on the face or on the hair roots. An hour later, all you need to wash off with warm water.
Important! After opening the original packaging, borage oil is oxidized and deteriorates rapidly. It must be stored no more than 60 days in the refrigerator. You can extend the shelf life of the drug by adding wheat germ oil to the bottle.
Watered face will save a mixture of 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp of borage oil and 3 drops of orange oil. The mask is applied for half an hour, then washed off with water. 
The skin of the hands will soften and rejuvenate the product made from equal parts of borago, coconut, and jojoba oils. It is applied at night and not washed off.
For the treatment of damaged hair and hair dye, a mask of equal parts of borage oil and sea buckthorn is simply necessary.
Both components are mixed and heated in a water bath. Then a warm agent is applied on the scalp and wrapped in cellophane. Top wrapped with a towel. After 2 hours, wash off with regular shampoo.
Useful tips for girls: learn how to use for cosmetology purposes an enoter, nettle, periwinkle, savory, marjoram, rosemary, calendula, parsnip, lettuce.
Contraindications
Folk healers recommend raw material for borage herbs both externally and internally. But warned that a long reception can not only get rid of health problems, but also provoke serious diseases. 
Such a load can not withstand the liver. Therefore, it is not recommended to use borago for more than 30 days. In addition, individual intolerance to the components of the plant, a violation of the dosage, improperly prepared drug is fraught with serious complications.
Do not experiment with your body. It is better to consult about the feasibility of using borage with your doctor.
Did you know? French and English beekeepers sow whole plantations with borage, cultivating it as an excellent honey plant.
Borage is easy to dissolve in your area, because it is within its power to save people from many diseases and rejuvenate their organisms. But in all the main thing - to comply with the measure.
