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Boldo

Compilation by Armando Gonzalez Stuart, PhD

Scientific Name:

Peumus boldus

Botanical Family:

Monimiaceae

Other Common Name:

Boldo do Chile, boldus, folo

Common names in Spanish:

Boldo, limoncillo.

Parts of the plant used:

The leaves and sometimes the bark of the tree.

Where is it found?

This aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree has greenish fruits and is indigenous to South America, mainly Chile and Peru. It is also found in Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, and Morocco, among other countries.

How is it used?

  • The leaves are steeped in water to make tea.

What is it used for?

  • The tea made from the leaves is taken principally for liver and gall- bladder problems, including gall bladder stones
  • The leaves are antioxidant
  • Anti-flatulent (reduce gas)
  • Eliminate gastrointestinal worms
  • Promote urine elimination (diuretic)
  •  Laxative
  • Stimulate the flow of bile in the gall bladder
  • Promote digestion
  • Lower blood glucose
  • Against gout  
  • Sedative
  • Rheumatism,
  • Eliminate skin blemishes
  • Antiseptic
  • To treat syphilis and gonorrhea (STD’s)
  • To protect the liver
  • To treat cystitis
  • For kidney problems

 

Safety / Precautions

Safety/Precautions:

  • Avoid ingestion during pregnancy and lactation
  • Avoid in small children
  • There is a case of abnormal behavior and hallucinations in a twelve-year-old girl who drank boldo tea
  • Boldo essential oil contains a toxic compound known as ascaridiol
  • Boldo is contraindicated in people with gall bladder stones or liver problems
  • A case of severe allergic reaction due to ingestion of boldo tea has been reported
  • Products containing boldo leaf should not be ingested for more than 4 weeks
  • Taken in high doses, boldo’s ingredients could cause paralysis, hallucinations, and disturbances of the nervous system
  • There is a case of boldo interacting with a medication (tacrolimus) in a patient who underwent a  kidney transplant

Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!

 

References:

  • Alonso J. Tratado de Fitofármacos y Nutracéuticos.
    Rosario, Argentina: Corpus; 2007; pp. 212-215.
  • ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). Formulario de Fitoterapicos da Farmacopeia Brasileira: Brasilia, Governo Federal do Brasil; 2011.
  • Berdonces JL. Gran Diccionario de las Plantas Medicinales.
    Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Oceano; 2009; p. 224.
  • Carbajal R et al. Case report: boldo (Peumus boldus) and tacrolimus interaction in a renal transplant patient. Transplant Proc. 2014; 46(7):2400-2.
  • Carretero-Accame et al. Fitoterapia para la colestasis, las alteraciones hepáticas, las náuseas y los vómitos. Capítulo 19. En: Castillo-García E. y Martínez-Solis I. (Editoras). Manual de Fitoterapia 2da ed. Barcelona: Elsevier España; 2016; pp. 295-298.
  • Chaboussant PJ et al. [Behavioural impairments and hallucinations after consumption of boldo leaf infusions][Article in French]. Therapie; 2014; 69(5):465-7.
  • Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Assessment Report on Peumus boldus Molina, Folium; 2009; http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018102.pdf retrieved March 28, 2016.
  • Duke J, Bogenschutz-Godwin M, Ottensen R. Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2009; pp. 519-521.
  • Gardner Z, McGuffin M (Editors). Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed.
    Boca Raton, FL; CRC Press; 2013; pp. 641-643.
  • Jiménez A. Herbolaria mexicana 2a ed.
    Madrid: Mundi-Prensa; 2012; p. 90.
  • Lau YS et al. Boldine Ameliorates Vascular Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction: Therapeutic Implication for Hypertension and Diabetes.
    J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2015 ; 65(6):522-31.
  • Lau YS et al. Boldine protects endothelial function in hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress through an antioxidant mechanism. Biochem Pharmacol. 2013;85(3):367-75.
  • Mejía-Dolores JW et al. Efecto neurotóxico del extracto acuoso de boldo (Peumus boldus) en un modelo animal. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2014; 31(1):62-8.
  • Mendoza-Castelán G, Lugo-Pérez R. Plantas Medicinales en los Mercados de México.
    Chapingo, Estado de México: Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; 2011; pp. 192-193.
  • Mills S, Bone K. Essential Guide to Herbal Safety
    St. Louis, MO: Churchill-Livingstone/Elsevier; 2005; pp. 290-292.
  • Mondal J et al. Low doses of ethanolic extract of Boldo (Peumus boldus) can ameliorate toxicity generated by cisplatin in normal liver cells of mice in vivo and in WRL-68 cells in vitro, but not in cancer cells in vivo or in vitro. J Integr Med. 2014; 12(5):425-38.
    Monzón S et al. Anaphylaxis to boldo infusion, a herbal remedy.
    Allergy. 2004; 59(9):1019-20.
  • Mostacero-León J. et al. Plantas Medicinales Del Perú.
    Trujillo, Perú: Asamblea Nacional de Rectores; 2011; Pp. 460-461.
  • Quattrocchi, U. World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants, Vol. 4.
    Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; pp. 505-506.
  • Van Wyk E, Wink M. Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons.
    Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press: 2014; p. 216.
  • Vanaclocha B, Cañigueral S. Fitoterapia: Vademécum de Prescripción 4ª ed.
    Barcelona: Masson; 2003; pp. 142-143.
  • Veitch N, Smith M, Barnes J, Anderson L, Phillipson D. Herbal Medicines 4th ed.
    London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2013; pp. 105-107.