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BUCHU
Buchu, also known as boegoe or ibuchu, is one of South Africa’s best-known medicinal plants. The leaves of this pleasantly fragrant herb have been used for several centuries by indigenous people as an antiseptic and to cure digestive and urinary tract problems.
What it is
Buchu belongs to the family Rutaceae, and includes several species of the genus Agathosma. However, only A. betulina is known as the true buchu and this is the only buchu species that should be taken internally. The plants occur naturally in the south western cape, but have been introduced to other areas of South Africa. The leaves of A. betulina constitute the ‘Folia Buchu’ of the British Pharmacopoiea and are officially recognised in many other pharmacopoieas internationally.
The shrubs are about two metres high with small, shiny, dark green leaves which are rich in oil glands and strong smelling and have therapeutic properties. The plants have small, white, star-like flowers.
The medicinal use of this plant is part of the cultural heritage of the Khoisan, who chew the leaves to relieve stomach problems and mix the leaves with sheep fat as an ointment to treat wounds. They introduced it to the first European settlers in the Cape, who made a brandy from it, which was consumed as a digestive tonic. Buchu was first exported to Europe as a medicine in the early 1800s.
The leaves are collected from January to March, which is when the plants are in flower and in seed. And since, until recently, most harvesting has been of wild stands the viability of these stands has been significantly endangered.
What it does
Buchu is said to be a useful urinary antiseptic, providing relief particularly for burning on urination, and has diuretic properties. It is also used to treat prostatitis, stomach aches, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, coughs and colds.
The active components in buchu include the volatile oils diosphenol, pulegone and isomenthone. Its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties are probably attributable to the irritant nature of these volatile oils and the flavonoids it contains (rutin, disomin, hesperidin and quercetin and its derivatives). Limited chemical data is available on buchu, and no scientific evidence is available to support its use in medicinal products, despite its therapeutic use over several centuries. Excessive use of buchu should be avoided in view of this lack of data.
MAJOR BENEFITS:
- Buchu is noticeably helpful when drunk as a tea, for urinary tract infections and mild digestive disturbances. The tea is also said to be an effective treatment for gout and rheumatism when taken twice daily.
Buchu vinegar may help to keep minor cuts and abrasions free of germs but should not be used on more serious wounds.
- ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: A bunch of buchu leaves dropped under the hot tap as the bath is being filled is said to ease backache and rheumatism. Buchu is also one of the ancient treatments for cholera and for infections of the prostate gland. Fishermen rub buchu twigs between their hands to remove the smell of fish and campers rub their bedding with the twigs to keep ants and mosquitoes away.
How to take it
DOSAGE:
- For internal use: Drink a cup of the infusion three times daily. Alternatively, take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day, or a tablespoon of buchu brandy or one to two capsules twice daily. To treat cystitis, drink an infusion which combines buchu with bearberry, yarrow or couchgrass.
- For external use: Apply buchu brandy or vinegar topically as a liniment or embrocation.
GUIDELINES FOR USE: To make an infusion, or tea, pour a cup of boiling water over one or two teaspoons of the dried leaf, either loose or placed in an infuser. Let this stand for 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
Buchu brandy or vinegar is made by steeping a few thumb-length sprigs of fresh buchu in a bottle of brandy or white vinegar (to which a few cloves are sometimes added). Shake the liquid daily for a week and then store in a dark cupboard.
COMMON USES
- Applied topically
- As an antiseptic for the cleaning of wounds.
- Heals burns and wounds.
- Taken internally
- Relieves mild urinary tract infections.
- Treats minor digestive disturbances.
- Relieves symptoms of coughs and colds.
FORMS
- Tincture
- Liquid extract
- Dried herb/Tea
- Essential oil
- Capsule
NB: Avoid taking buchu if you have a kidney infection, because its volatile oils are an irritant. Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.
Possible side effects
Buchu is relatively safe with few side effects. However, it contains the volatile oil pulegone, which is toxic to the liver. The oil may also cause gastrointestinal and renal irritation. Excessive doses should be avoided in view of these possible side effects. Buchu should not be taken during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.
SHOPPING HINTS
Read the label carefully when buying buchu and look for products containing A. betulina. A. crenulata contains high levels of the toxic compound pulegone and should be avoided.
LATEST FINDINGS
- The South African industry is trying to increase the hectarage of planted buchu so as to decrease the decimation of wild stands. Commercial buchu will be grown under organic and natural conditions.
- Recently developed and more sophisticated extraction techniques will lead to the more efficient use of by-products and, hopefully, to more usable extracts.
- The natural oils from some buchus are being tested for use in cosmetics, soaps, food colouring and perfumes.
- Some of the buchu species are said to contain an agent which blocks out ultraviolet light and therefore may be a useful sunscreen.
Updates:
- August 2005
I recently bought a box of Vital Health Foods Buchu - 100 capsules, in preparation for my September, body spring clean! The notes on the packaging read, ‘Can be safely used by those wanting to lose weight. Buchu has been used for centuries in the Cape as a dietary aid to climming. Directions: Take 1 capsule 3 times daily.’ I will be taking my Buchu capsule during the course of September 2005 and monitoring what sort of benifits I enjoy. *Grin*
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