Boldo is a tree used for herbal remedies and culinary purposes, with medicinal uses including supporting the gallbladder, treating hangovers and upset stomachs, and relieving inflammation. It can also be used to produce herbal teas and charcoal. However, pregnant and lactating women, those with kidney or severe liver disease, and those using it for more than three to four weeks should avoid it. Essential oil made from the tree should be handled with care and a doctor should be consulted before use.
Originally from the Chilean Andes, boldo is a tree used as a herbal home remedy. Taken as an antiseptic and tonic for many different conditions, boldo is known for its strong aroma of camphor. The tree is also used for culinary purposes.
Boldo is also known as peumus boldus, boldu boldus lyons, boldus fragrans, and boldea fragrans. Also grown in North Africa, Europe, and Latin America, the evergreen tree features two-inch (5 centimeters) long, leathery leaves and small spheres of fruit. In Spain and Latin America, boldo leaves and bark are a popular herbal medicine.
Some of the tree’s uses include supporting the gallbladder, curing hangovers, and relieving an upset stomach. An anti-inflammatory agent, boldo can also be used to treat gonorrhea, rheumatism, liver pain, dyspepsia, urinary tract infections, sinus infections, colon problems, obesity, and genital inflammation. It was also the original treatment for malaria and internal parasites such as worms, although these uses have been superseded by more effective and less dangerous remedies.
Boldo, a dietetic, stimulates the production of bile. It can also increase the secretion of gastric juices and uric acid. Due to its mild narcotic properties, boldo is also a restricted substance in certain areas. Used with other herbs, such as gentian, cascara, and rhubarb, boldo can help improve appetite. The plant may also be a suitable alternative to other medications, such as amoxicillin, ofloxacin, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, or other antibiotics.
Herbal teas can be made with boldo. People in Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay use it in their yerba mate tea, and often keep a boldo tree for this reason. The tree also produces nutritious and sweet fruits. Small and round, these yellow or green boldo fruits appear during a narrow period of winter. Boldo is also used for the production of charcoal.
Pregnant and lactating women should avoid this herbal remedy. The treatment is not recommended for people with kidney disease, as it can cause irritation in severe cases. People with liver obstructions and severe liver disease should also refrain from using the homeopathic remedy. Long-term use of the product for more than three to four weeks at a time is also inadvisable.
Essential oil made from the tree must be handled with care, as even low doses have the potential to induce bodily convulsions, ringing in the ears, or coma. Due to its strong unpleasant aroma, boldo is not recommended for aromatherapy use. A doctor should be consulted before use.
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