Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Borage (Borago officinalis) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in European, Middle Eastern, and North African herbal practices. Traditionally, borage leaves and flowers have been prepared as teas or syrups and used to soothe various respiratory ailments, including coughs—especially those characterized as "spastic" or dry, irritating coughs. The rationale in folk medicine is often attributed to borage’s purported demulcent (soothing) and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help calm irritated mucous membranes in the respiratory tract.

Despite its traditional use, scientific evidence specifically supporting borage for spastic cough is limited. There are some studies investigating borage's anti-inflammatory effects (mainly due to its gamma-linolenic acid content), but these are generally related to skin conditions or systemic inflammation rather than cough. A few laboratory studies suggest borage extracts may have mild expectorant or soothing effects, but clinical trials in humans for cough are lacking. Therefore, its use for cough remains primarily supported by traditional knowledge, with minimal direct scientific validation.

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