This fleshy-leafed herb, thought to be native to India, grows wild in Malaysia. It is easily cultivated and found in pots or planted in kitchen gardens in some other parts of Southeast Asia. Interestingly, it is also found in Australia, where it is popularly known as "five-in-one", and in the West Indies, where it is called broad-leaf thyme.

            The leaf is particularly pungent and perhaps closest in flavour to thyme; others think it makes a good substitute for sage. Somewhat confusingly, the Filipinos call it oregano, even though it bears no resemblance to that plant, which does not grow in Southeast Asia.

            Indian borage is not often used in regional cuisine, although it is sometimes added sparingly to fish or goat neat curries in Malaysia or Java to counteract the strong smell. Just one very finely chopped leaf can be added to a Western-style bread stuffing with a pleasing result. Indian borage is used rnedicinally as a cough cure, particularly by ethnic Indians.