Borage (Borago officinalis) vs Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Borage (Borago officinalis)

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

About

Borage (Borago officinalis) is a coarse, hairy annual that grows to about 2 ft (60 cm), featuring a succulent stem, large basal leaves, and distinctively bright blue star-shaped flowers. The seeds yield an oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a sweetly scented, perennial herb growing up to about 5 ft (1.5 m), with small white flowers and toothed leaves that release a distinct lemon aroma.

Safety & precautions

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: The borage plant contains these liver-toxic compounds. In 2001 the U.S. FDA advised that supplements containing any source of them be taken off the market, so avoid the herb internally. Seed oil: MSK advises using only borage oil products that carry certification that they are free of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, notes that small amounts can remain, and says liver risk rises with longer use and larger total intake. Avoid borage oil if you have liver disease or are pregnant or breastfeeding, and talk to a clinician before using it if you take any medicine.

Essential Oil (Internal Use): Avoid unless under professional supervision. Thyroid: It may reduce thyroid function and should be used cautiously in hypothyroidism.

Safety text above is printed in full and is never abbreviated. For each plant’s complete precautions, drug and food interactions and preparation notes, open its own page - both are free.