Episode 244: Borage for Eczema, PMS, Hot Flashes, and Stress with Bridget Giuffrida

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Episode Summary

Many gardeners are familiar with borage: those gorgeous, starry blue flowers that bees absolutely adore. But what if there’s more to borage than just a pretty face?

In this episode, I sit down with Bridget Giuffrida to discuss the many virtues of borage (Borago officinalis). During our conversation, Bridget shares how she loves to work with borage as a cooling, soothing ally for the skin, emotional overwhelm, and the changes that come with perimenopause. We also talk about the simple pleasure of spending time with borage in the garden—and what we might discover when we slow down enough to really pay attention to a plant.

Bridget also shares her recipe for Borage Blossom Honey, a simple and delicious way to work with this lovely flower. Download your beautifully illustrated recipe card from the section below!

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► How borage can offer gentle support when life feels like it’s running at full throttle

► What makes borage such a wonderful herbal ally for the skin

► How this plant became associated with courage—and why that reputation has endured for centuries

► Over a dozen ways to bring borage into your kitchen and apothecary (from the prettiest of ice cubes, to tinctures, liniments, and more!)

► What to consider before using borage internally

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Bridget Giuffrida is a community herbalist, educator, herbal formulator, and founder of Sweet Herb Medicinals, a handcrafted herbal apothecary in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. Her relationship with plants began in the foothills of Northern California’s Sierra Nevada, and for 30 years she has studied, grown, gathered, and worked with herbs.

For 20 years, Sweet Herb Medicinals has been a place for herbal education, handcrafted preparations, botanical skincare, and hands-on learning for adults and youth. She is also co-founder of Bella Flora Expeditions, combining her love of plants, travel, food, culture, and landscape to create immersive botanical journeys around the world. 

There’s something lovely about a plant that brings so much life to a garden while inviting us to find a little more steadiness in our own. May borage bring you a fresh appreciation for the everyday wonders growing all around you.

Would you prefer reading this episode? If so, click here to download a transcript.

Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, scroll down below.

Connect with Bridget:

• Website | SweetHerbMedicinals.com
• Instagram | @sweet.herb.medicinals
• Facebook | Bridget Giuffrida and Sweet Herb Medicinals
• TikTok | @sweet.herb.medicinals
• X | @sweetherbmed

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [1:09] Introduction to Bridget Giuffrida + her plant path
• [11:02] Why Bridget chose to speak about borage today
• [14:12] Benefits of borage in the garden
• [20:37] Preserving borage for later use
• [24:13] The cooling nature of borage
• [25:32] Borage for the skin
• [29:26] Borage for stress and mood support
• [31:04] Medicinal and culinary preparations for borage
• [32:32] Borage Blossom Honey recipe
• [39:12] Borage for courage
• [46:34] Growing borage
• [50:11] Bridget’s herbal offerings
• [55:12] How working with herbs has changed the way Bridget sees the world
• [57:54] Student spotlight
• [59:13] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe Download!

-- TIMESTAMPS -- 

• 00:57 - Introduction to Bridget Giuffrida + her plant path
• 11:11 - Why Bridget chose to speak about borage today
• 14:25 - Benefits of borage in the garden
• 21:03 - Preserving borage for later use
• 24:54 - The cooling nature of borage
• 26:14 - Borage for the skin
• 30:30 - Borage for stress and mood support
• 32:14 - Medicinal and culinary preparations for borage
• 33:54 - Borage Blossom Honey recipe
• 40:58 - Borage for courage
• 48:49 - Growing borage
• 52:44 - Bridget’s herbal offerings
• 58:02 - How working with herbs has changed the way Bridget sees the world
• 1:00:46 - Student spotlight
• 1:02:06 - Herbal tidbit

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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