Buchu Blog Post | Rooted Being

Buchu

BY THEASHEN MOODLEY

Key Definitions

Anti-hyperglycaemic – counteracting the accumulation of excess sugar in the blood.
Constituent - a component part of something.
Contraindications – a condition or circumstance that suggests or indicates that a particular technique or drug should not be used in the case in question.
Diuretic – Medication that causes increased passing of urine.
Indications – A symptom that suggests certain medical treatment is necessary.
In vitro – A procedure that is performed or taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism.
In vivo – A procedure that is performed or taking place in a living organism.
Prostatitis – infection of the prostate gland.

Introduction

Are you suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a yeast infection? Then let the traditional South African remedy of Buchu help you. Buchu is predominantly taken as a stimulant, diuretic and to help relieve digestive issues (Chevallier, 2016).

Buchu belongs to the Rutaceae family of plants and is a shrub that grows to approximately 2 m in length and has stemless, slightly leathery leaves that contain oil glands. Buchu grows predominantly on the hillsides of South Africa but can also be found in parts of South America (Chevallier, 2016).

Constituents, Actions & Indications

Constituents

Volatile oils (pulegone, menthone, diosphenol, limonene); sulphur compounds; flavonoids (diosmetin, rutin, diosmin, hesperidin, quercetin and derivatives); mucilage; vitamins of the B group; tannins (Chevallier, 2016) (Hoffmann, 2003).

Actions

Urinary antiseptic; diuretic; stimulant; uterine stimulant; antimicrobial (Chevallier, 2016) (Hoffmann, 2003).

Indications

Urinary infections (e.g., cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis) (Chevallier, 2016) (Hoffmann, 2003).

Scientific Research

A publication by Huisamen, 2019 sought to validate the health-promoting properties of Buchu by looking at in vitro and in vivo models. A summary of the publication’s findings is presented below:

In vitro (cell-based) studies proved that Buchu offers anti-inflammatory effects.
In vitro (cell-based) and in vivo (animal) studies showed that Buchu may lead to weight loss and offer anti-hyperglycaemic effects.
An in vivo (animal) study indicated that Buchu may be able to redifferentiate cells from a diabetic profile to a healthy profile.
In vivo (animal) studies showed that Buchu has anti-hypertensive properties (i.e., it can lower blood pressure).
In vivo (animal) studies indicated that Buchu is cardioprotective.

It is to be noted that further human clinical trials should be completed to validate the information presented above.

Culture Lab Buchu Rooibos kombucha & Tubby's Kitchen Lady Buchu tea

Preparations & Dosage

Infusion – for prostatitis, drink 150-250 mL two to three times a day (Chevallier, 2016) (Easley & Horne, 2016). To make an infusion pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp of dried Buchu leaves and infuse for 10 minutes (Hoffmann, 2003).

Tincture – for chronic urinary infections, take 40 drops (or 1-2 mL) three times a day of a 1:5 tincture (containing 80% alcohol) (Chevallier, 2016) (Easley & Horne, 2016).

Capsule – for cystitis, take a 500-1000 mg capsule two to three times a day (Chevallier, 2016) (Easley & Horne, 2016).

Shop our Buchu-infused Lady Buchu CBD tea, Buchu Rooibos kombucha or our Golden Glow Botanical Serum.

Buchu Tea Recipe

Buchu has an aroma and taste like that of black currant, or a mixture of rosemary and peppermint. The leaves of Buchu are mainly used in preparations, as they contain volatile oils (Chevallier, 2016). The recipe below was taken from https://www.buchuvida.com/blog/how-to-make-buchu-tea (buchuvida, 2023).
Ingredients

1 tbsp Buchu leaves
500 mL Water
Honey of sweetener, as required

Instructions

Boil water.
Add Buchu leaves to boiled water and let the mixture steep for 5-10 minutes.
Strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer or a tea infuser.
Add honey or sweetener to taste.

Safety Considerations

There haven’t been any reports of adverse effects caused by Buchu, but caution is advised for people with a history of kidney disease or inflammation, as Buchu may cause irritation (Hoffmann, 2003) (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Contraindications

Empirical evidence shows that Buchu leaves may cause acute genito-urinary tract and kidney inflammation (Brinker, 1998).
Buchu should only be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner (Brinker, 1998) (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Drug Interactions

None known (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Adverse Events

None known (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Disclaimer

The information presented in this post is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, and not to substitute for, professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.

References

Brinker, F., 1998. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
buchuvida, 2023. how to make buchu tea. [Online]
Available at: https://www.buchuvida.com/blog/how-to-make-buchu-tea
[Accessed 16 July 2024].
Chevallier, A., 2016. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. New York: DK Publishing.
Easley, T. & Horne, S., 2016. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide. California: North Atlantic Books.
Gardner, Z. & McGuffin, M., 2013. Botanical Safety Handbook. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Hoffmann, D., 2003. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. 1st ed. Vermont: Healing Arts Press.
Huisamen, B. (., 2019. Medicinal Effects of Agathosma (Buchu) Extracts. 1 ed. Cape Town: AOSIS.

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