Boldo tea, derived from the leaves of the boldo tree (Peumus boldus), is an herbal infusion traditionally utilized in South America for its medicinal properties. Native to central Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, the boldo plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to 6 meters in height. Its woody, bitter-smelling leaves have been used medicinally for generations. While celebrated for potential health benefits, it's crucial to understand both the advantages and potential risks associated with its consumption.
Traditional and Ethnobotanical Uses
In Chile, the yellowish-green fruit of the boldo tree is consumed, the bark is used in tanning processes, and the wood serves as a source for charcoal. Indigenous South Americans traditionally employed boldo leaves for medicinal purposes. Explorers noted these uses and introduced the herb to North America and Great Britain. Historically, it was used to prevent or alleviate gas, address stomach, bladder, and liver ailments, and as a mild sedative. In natural medicine, boldo has been used to treat digestive disorders, as a laxative, choleretic (stimulating bile secretion), diuretic, and for hepatic diseases. The leaves have also been used for worms, gonorrhea, syphilis, gout, rheumatism, head colds, and earaches. Furthermore, boldo extract serves as a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages.
Potential Health Benefits
While scientific evidence supporting all traditional uses is limited, boldo tea and its components, particularly boldine, have demonstrated several potential health benefits in in vitro and animal studies.
- Antioxidant Properties: Boldo tea exhibits antioxidant activity, helping to combat free radicals that can cause cellular damage. A test-tube study on herbal teas commonly used in South America found that boldo tea had one of the highest antioxidant activities. The plant is rich in phenolic compounds like polyphenols and alkaloids (especially Peumus boldus), rosmarinic acid, barbatusine, and forskolin (which is found in Plectranthus barbatus).
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: In vitro and animal studies suggest boldo leaf extract and its part, boldine, possess anti-inflammatory effects.
- Antimicrobial Activity: In vitro and animal studies suggest boldo leaf extract and its part, boldine, possess antimicrobial effects. Essential oils made from Peumus boldus also have antifungal properties and are especially effective against Candida sp that cause skin mycosis. Boldo contains antioxidants and chemicals that might fight the growth of bacteria in the urine.
- Digestive Aid: Boldo has traditionally been used for digestive problems. Both types of boldo can improve digestion and decrease gas, especially when taken as a tea before or immediately following a meal. Boldo stimulates the release of bile from the gallbladder, which is a compound that helps with the digestion of fat. Therefore, this plant may be beneficial for treating gallbladder problems. When considered for gallbladder problems, use should be supervised by a healthcare professional.
- Liver Protection: Boldo extract contains active ingredients and antioxidant compounds, including limonene, coumarin, camphor, and beta-pinene, which help detoxify the liver, aid in digestion, and boost the immune system. Boldo can help to clean up ethanal, which is a substance produced by the liver after consuming alcohol. Most hangover symptoms (like dry mouth, headache, and general malaise) are a result of high ethanal levels.
- Diuretic Effect: Glycosylated flavonoids are a component of Peumus boldus and contain a diuretic effect.
- Gastritis Relief: Alkaloids that are present in both types of boldo can neutralize stomach acid, making it a useful as a complementary treatment for gastritis.
- Constipation Relief: Boldine, an alkaloid present in Peumus boldus, acts as a relaxant that regulates intestinal function. This can especially be useful for the treatment of constipation.
- Potential Applications in Diabetes and Cancer: In vitro and animal studies suggest boldo leaf extract and its part, boldine, possess potential applications in diabetes and cancer.
- Potential in treating leishmaniasis: In test-tube and animal studies, ascaridole shows promising potential in the treatment of leishmaniasis, a disease caused by tropical parasites. Still, more research is needed.
Side Effects and Precautions
Despite its potential benefits, boldo tea consumption carries potential risks and side effects.
- Liver Toxicity: Boldo contains a chemical called ascaridole, which is toxic and can lead to liver damage. Only ascaridole-free products should be used. Excessive doses or prolonged use of Peumus boldus (over 30 days) can lead to liver intoxication, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s possible that having gallbladder problems increases the risk of liver damage from boldo. Boldo might cause liver damage, especially in people who have liver disease.
- Gastrointestinal Issues: Excessive consumption of Peumus boldus can also cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Plectranthus barbatus, when taken in high doses or for over 30 days, can also cause stomach burning or pain and diarrhea.
- Allergic Reactions: Taking Peumus boldus can also cause anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. Therefore, it is important to monitor for symptoms like a swollen tongue, difficulty breathing or swallowing. Anaphylaxis to boldo infusion, a herbal remedy.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Boldo is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth while pregnant or breast-feeding. Boldo contains chemicals that might harm the fetus and cause liver damage. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Boldo tea should not be used in the case of confirmed or suspected pregnancy, as it may cause fetal malformations or result in abortion from uterine contractions. Plectranthus barbatus should also not be given to children or consumed by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Gallbladder Problems: Boldo seems to increase the flow of bile, a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The extra bile flow might be harmful in people with gallbladder problems. Peumus boldus is not recommended for use by people with gallstones or biliary duct inflammation.
- Surgery: Boldo might slow blood clotting. This might increase the chance of too much bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using boldo at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
- Skin Irritation: When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if boldo is safe. Side effects might include skin irritation.
- Not recommended for children: Peumus boldus is not recommended for use by children. Plectranthus barbatus should also not be given to children.
- Other Conditions: Peumus boldus is not recommended for use by people with liver disease, people with kidney disease, or people with a history of gallbladder or pancreatic cancer.
Drug Interactions
Boldo can interact with several medications, potentially leading to adverse effects.
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- Blood Thinners: Boldo might slow blood clotting. Taking boldo along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Boldo can interfere with warfarin, a blood-thinning medication, as well as other blood thinners and heart medications. People taking anticoagulants, such as clopidogrel, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), warfarin, and heparin, should not drink boldo tea, as it may increase the risk for blood clots.
- Liver-Harming Medications: Boldo might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver. Taking boldo along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.
- Lithium: Boldo might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking boldo might increase how much lithium is in the body. This could cause serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
- Tacrolimus: Tacrolimus is a medication used to prevent organ rejection in people with organ transplants. Taking boldo with tacrolimus might reduce the amount of tacrolimus in the body. This could decrease the effects of tacrolimus and increase the chance for transplant rejection. Do not take boldo if you are taking tacrolimus after an organ transplant. Plectranthus barbatus should also not be used in conjunction with medications like metronidazole, disulfiram, sedatives, antihypertensives, anti-arrhythmics, digoxin, and hormonal therapy for thyroid conditions.
Dosage and Preparation
Boldo has been traditionally used by adults as a tea. It's prepared by steeping 1 gram of dried boldo leaves in 150 mL of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. To prepare, boil 1 L of water with a few boldo leaves for about 15 minutes. Boil the water, remove from the heat, and pour into a mug containing the chopped tea leaves.
- Tea: Traditionally, boldo tea is prepared by steeping 1 gram of dried boldo leaves in 150 mL of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Some recommend diluting boldo tea with yerba mate to make it safer for daily consumption.
- Juice: Boldo juice can be made by blending 1 tsp of chopped boldo leaves with 1 cup of cold water and half a cup of lemon juice.
- Tincture: Boldo tincture is typically made by diluting 20 g of fresh boldo leaves in 100 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol.
- Capsules: Each capsule typically contains between 200 and 400 mg of dried boldo.
Limit your intake to a cup (240 mL) of boldo tea occasionally to avoid any potential complications. Boldo tea is not advised to be consumed daily. Herbal boldo tea bags and premade blends of boldo and yerba mate are available to be purchased online and in some health food stores.
Types of Boldo
There are two main types of boldo: Peumus boldus and Plectranthus barbatus. The main health benefits of boldo depend on the type that is used. Both types of boldo are safe for most adults when consumed for short periods of time. Nonetheless, if Peumus boldus is used in excessive doses or if used for over 30 days, it can lead to liver intoxication, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Taking Peumus boldus can also cause anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. Plectranthus barbatus, when taken in high doses or for over 30 days, can also cause stomach burning or pain and diarrhea.
Important Considerations
- Consult a Healthcare Professional: You should always use boldo under medical supervision, no matter the type that is used. Speak with your healthcare provider before use.
- Not a Substitute for Medical Advice: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.
- Short-Term Use: Boldo tea is considered safe to drink for the majority of adults when consumed in the recommended amounts for a short period of time (up to 20 days). If you need to use this plant for longer than 30 days, you should take a 7 day break from it before continuing.
- Caffeine-Free: Because boldo tea is an herbal tea and is not made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant (such as black or green tea), it is completely caffeine-free.
- FDA Status: Boldo is FDA when consumed in amounts typically found in food.
- Lack of Strong Evidence: There’s little evidence to support its use for digestive problems, liver detoxification, or weight loss.
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