Boldo's therapeutic uses
Boldo (Peumus boldus) is an evergreen shrub native to South America, recognized for its therapeutic uses, particularly in digestive health. Traditionally used in Chilean medicine, boldo leaves are believed to help with various ailments, including liver protection, dyspepsia (indigestion), constipation, and anti-inflammatory conditions. Scientific research has explored boldo's potential for stimulating gallbladder function and protecting the liver, possibly due to its antioxidant properties.
Germany's Commission E has approved boldo for treating spastic gastrointestinal complaints, including dyspepsia, although its effectiveness as a standalone treatment for this condition has not been fully evaluated. Some clinical trials suggest that boldo may improve indigestion symptoms when combined with other herbs.
While boldo appears safe at recommended doses, caution is advised due to potential side effects such as nausea or diarrhea and the risk of kidney damage from its essential oils. It is particularly important for individuals with gallstones or bile duct obstructions to consult a physician before use. Pregnant women and those with severe liver or kidney issues should avoid boldo altogether, as safety in these populations has not been established.
Boldo's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Constipation, dyspepsia, liver protection, digestive health, urinary tract health, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative
Overview
Boldo (Peumus boldus) is an evergreen shrub native to South America. It grows about 6 to 20 feet high and has thick, waxy leaves. Boldo has a long history of use as a culinary spice and medicinal herb, and it is still one of Chile's most common medicinal plants. Only in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries has it become the subject of scientific research.
The leaves of the boldo plant have traditionally been used to treat bladder and liver disorders, as well as rheumatism. They have also been used for a wide variety of other ailments, including headache, earache, congestion, menstrual pain, and syphilis. Research suggests boldo may protect the liver from toxins, stimulate the gallbladder, and reduce inflammation. Several other therapeutic uses for boldo have been suggested.
Therapeutic Dosages
Germany’s Commission E recommends 3 grams of the dried leaf or its equivalent per day for digestive complaints.
Therapeutic Uses
Germany’s Commission E has approved boldo for “spastic gastrointestinal complaints and dyspepsia.” Dyspepsia is a rather vague term that corresponds to the common word “indigestion,” indicating a wide variety of digestive problems, including stomach discomfort, lack of appetite, and nausea.
In Europe, dyspepsia is commonly attributed to inadequate bile flow from the gallbladder. Although this connection has not been proven, Boldo has been used as a treatment for dyspepsia based on how it affects the gallbladder. Boldo does not seem to increase bile production, but it may cause gallbladder contraction.
Boldo taken alone has not been well evaluated as a treatment for dyspepsia; however, a combination herbal treatment containing boldo (along with other herbs thought to stimulate the gallbladder) has been studied. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, sixty people given either an artichoke leaf/boldo/celandine combination or placebo found improvements in symptoms of indigestion after fourteen days of treatment. How this combination might be effective for treating dyspepsia is unclear. Celandine may present a significant risk of liver toxicity.
Studies on animals have found that boldo may have some ability to protect the liver from toxins, perhaps due to the antioxidant effects of a boldo constituent called boldine. Boldo also has anti-inflammatory properties and, in addition, may act as a laxative. Boldo contains high levels of antioxidants that may protect from free radicals that cause cellular damage. Finally, the essential oils found in boldo have antimicrobial properties; however, this is true of many essential oils and does not indicate that boldo can act as an antibiotic.
Safety Issues
Although comprehensive safety studies have not been completed, boldo leaf appears safe at regular doses. Only limited side effects have been reported, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. However, the plant’s essential oils are toxic and can cause kidney damage if taken in purified form or if very large amounts of the leaf are ingested. Despite boldo’s claims of detoxifying the liver, it also contains ascaridole, a compound toxic to the liver in large quantities or with prolonged use. The safety of long-term use is also questionable.
Individuals with gallstones should take boldo only under a physician’s supervision because of the risk of gallstones being expelled and becoming lodged in a bile duct or the intestines. Those with obstruction of the bile ducts should not use boldo because of the risk of rupture. Patients taking blood-thinning drugs and certain cardiac medications should not consume boldo.
Animal studies suggest that boldo can cause congenital disabilities and spontaneous abortion. For this reason, pregnant women should not use boldo. Safety in nursing women, young children, and individuals with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Bibliography
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Jimenez, I., et al. "Protective Effects of Boldine Against Free Radical-Induced Erythrocyte Lysis." Phytotherapy Research, vol. 14, 2000, pp. 339-343.
Jimenez, I., and H. Speisky. “Biological Disposition of Boldine: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 14, 2000, pp. 254-260.
Vila, R., et al. "Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Peumus boldus Leaves." Planta Medica, vol. 65, 1999, pp. 178-179.
Warwick, Kathy W., and Debra Rose Wilson. "Boldo Tea: Benefits, Safety, and Side Effects." Healthline, 17 July 2020, www.healthline.com/nutrition/boldo-tea#downsides. Accessed 6 Sept. 2024.