Boldo
Botanical Description & Habitat
Peumus boldus
Family
Monimiaceae
Habitat
Chile and Peru
Medicinal Parts
Dried leaves
Historical Properties & Uses
In Chilean folk medicine, boldo is used as mild diuretic, and a primary treatment for liver ailments with jaundice. In addition, boldo has a variety of other uses: anodyne, antiseptic, choleretic, hepatatonic, hypnotic, stimulant, tonic and vermifuge.
Boldo leaf has approval status by the German Commission E for use in GI complaints e.g. dyspepsia.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Boldo contains the glycoside boldoglucin, an alkaloid-boldine, and a volatile oil. The oil is similar to chenopodium (greater celandine) oil, containing p-cymole, cineole, ascaridole and other terpenes. Flavonoids are also present.
In Germany pharmacy, boldo is often combined with other essential oils, such as caraway, fennel, wormwood, mint and calamus.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes boldo as a cholagogue, liver stimulant, sedative, diuretic, mild urinary demulcent and antiseptic, for use in the treatment of gallstones, pain in liver or gallbladder, cystitis, rheumatism; specifically indicated in cholelithiasis with pain.
Combined with barberry and fringe tree bark in the treatment of gallstones and hepatic disease.
In the final analysis, boldo is probably no more important, or not even as important, as native cholagogues such as dandelion.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Boldo, insofar as its diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuremic effects of glucose elevating agents.
Possible Interactions
The use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs.
Comments
There is evidence combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the '-static' variety. How this finding applies to herbal antibiotics is not known.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Boldo possess mild toxicity, but in therapeutic doses, intermittently, should pose no significant threat to health.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Infusion
Use 60-200mg of dried leaves
Liquid Extract
Use 0.1-0.3ml of 1:1 in 45% alcohol
Tincture
Use 0.5-2ml of 1:10 in 60% alcohol
Boldo leaf has approval status by the German Commission E for use in GI complaints e.g. dyspepsia.
Daily dosages are:
3 g
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Duke, J.A. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1985.
Hughes, DW et al., Alkaloids of Peumus boldus. Isolation of (+) Reticuline and Isoboldine. J. Pharm. Sci. 1968, 57:1,023.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, Beaconsfield, England, 1988.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
