Boldo

Scientific Name(S): Peumus boldus Molina also referred to as Boldu boldus [Molina] Lyons and Boldea fragrans Gay. Family: Monimiaceae

Common Name(S): Boldo, boldus, boldoa, boldea

Boldo is an evergreen plant, used by the natives for a range of uses from gout to liver and prostate problems. Today it is recognised in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for its diuretic actions in particular, where it is also thought to cleanse sediment and bacteria from the biliary tract.

Boldo contains several active ingredients, including alkaloids, flavonoids and volatile oils. The major alkaloid found is called boldine, which is believed to stimulate the production of bile and act as a diuretic. Another compound found in the plant's oil, ascaridole, has been used to fight parasites but is also quite toxic.

Botany: An evergreen shrub or small tree native to central Chile, Peru and Morocco.

History: In Chile, the yellowish-green fruit is eaten, its bark used in tanning and its wood used for charcoal. Boldo leaves have been used by South American natives against diseases of the liver and for the treatment of gallstones. The plant is used in homeopathy in the treatment of digestive disorders, as a laxative, choleretic a stimulant of bile secretion), diuretic and for hepatic disturbances. The leaves have also been used for worms, urogenital inflammations (eg, gonorrhea, syphilis), gout, rheumatism, head colds and earaches. Boldo extract is used as a flavoring for alcoholic beverages.

Uses of Boldo

The fruit is eaten and boldo extracts used to flavor alcoholic beverages. Leaves are widely used in teas, tonics, etc., as diuretic, laxative and treatment for liver, gallbladder and other conditions

In conjunction with other herbs, such as cascara , rhubarb, and gentian , boldo has been reported to improve appetite

Side Effects of Boldo

Boldo is a CNS stimulant. Large doses cause paralysis and death.

Dosage

Tinctures that are free of ascaridoles are sometimes recommended. People may take 1 ml of tincture three times per day. Volatile oil of boldo is not recommended due to its high ascaridole content. The dried leaf can be used as an infusion at 3 grams per day.

Toxicology: Oral doses of 0.5 mg/g were needed to kill mice, while doses of 15 g caused fatal intoxications in dogs. Death was due to respiratory depression. Physiologically, boldus stimulates the central nervous system in particular, causing exaggerated reflexes, disturbed coordination and convulsions. In large doses, it causes paralysis of both the motor and sensory nerves and eventually the muscle fibers as well, causing death due to respiratory arrest.

Summary: Boldo leaves are included in herbal teas as a diuretic, "hepatic tonic" and laxative. The plant is used widely in Europe and Canada. Although no data are available comparing its effect to standard diuretic agents, boldo often causes clinically significant diuresis.

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