Buchu

Barosma betulina

COMMON NAMES

• Bookoo
• Buchu
• Bucku
• Diosma Betulina
• Oval Buchu
• Round Buchu
• Short Buchu
• Short-leaved Buchu
• Thumb

Buchu - these woody shrubs grow as tall as six feet, with red - brown or violet - brown bark. Their leathery, lustrous leaves are dotted with oil glands, have jagged margins, and range in color from yellow - green to brown. The flowers are small and star - shaped.

Buchu consists of the dried leaves of three species of the genus Barosma which are given common names based on the leaf shape: B. betulina (Thunb.) Bartl. & Wendl., commercially known as short buchu; B. crenulata (L.) Hook., called ovate buchu; B. serratifolia (Curt.) Willd., known as long buchu. All are obtained from low, white - or pink - flowered shrubs of the family Rutaceae, native to South Africa. Originally utilized as a medication by the Hottentots in that area, the leaves have been used as a household remedy for almost every known affliction. An alcoholic beverage, buchu brandy, is also widely distributed there. The medication used to be official in The National Formulary and was rather widely employed as a urinary antiseptic and diuretic. Its use by physicians has been discontinued, but advocates of herbs continue to promote it for the same conditions that Helmbold ( a patent medicine producer in New York City) recommended it more than 135 years ago.

Whatever therapeutic utility buchu may possess is due to its volatile oil, the principal active constituent of which is buchu camphor or diosphenol. This accounts for the incorporation of buchu leaves in a large number of teas still sold in Europe for kidney and bladder conditions. However, its diuretic and, especially, its antiseptic properties are relatively mild, and this must be kept in mind if one suffers from a condition that requires an especially effective medication. There is no reason, however, to question the safety of buchu.

PARTS USED

Leaf.

USES

The native peoples of southern Africa, most prominently the Khoi San of the western Cape region, pioneered the medicinal use of buchu, employing it to treat urinary problems long before Europeans arrived. Dutch Afrikaner settlers adopted buchu in treating kidney stones, arthritis, cholera, muscle aches, and urinary infections when they colonized the Cape region in the 17th century. English who settled there later claimed it had been used to treat nearly every human affliction. Although buchu contains volatile oils that may give it mild diuretic and antiseptic properties, its efficacy in treating sexually transmitted diseases is unsubstantiated. Fluidex and Odrinil, two prescription medications that relieve premenstrual bloating, both contain buchu.

Traditional remedy - Buchu is a traditional remedy of the Khoikhoin people of South Africa. Buchu is used as a general stimulant and a diuretic. Strongly aromatic, buchu is taken as a carminative, helping to relieve gas and bloating.
Early Western uses - Buchu was first exported to Britain in 1790 and became an official medicine in 1821, being listed in the British Pharmacopoeia as an effective remedy for "cystitis, urethritis, nephritis and catarrh of the bladder."
Modern urinary treatment - Broadly speaking, buchu is used today in Western herbal medicine for the same type of urinary complaints as in the 12th century. Buchu is commonly prescribed for urinary tract infections, often proving effective in curing acute cystitis when combined with other herbs such as corn silk and juniper. Taken regularly, buchu can help to prevent recurrent attacks of chronic cystitis or urethritis. In addition, buchu is also taken for prostatitis and irritable bladder, often in combination with herbs such as uva-ursi and corn silk. The active constituent, diosphenol, has a diuretic action and may partly account for the herb's antiseptic effect on the urinary system.
Gynecological uses - Buchu infusion or tincture is useful in treatments for cystitis and urethritis, especially when they are related to a preexisiting candida problem, such as yeast infections. The infusion is usually preferable to the tincture, particularly when the onset of infection is sudden. The infusion is also used as a douche for leucorrhea (white vaginal discharge) and occasionally for yeast infections. The herb is a uterine stimulant and contains pulegone, which is also present in large quantities in pennyroyal. Pulegone is an abortifacient and a powerful emmanagogue (stimulates menstrual flow). Buchu should not, therefore, be taken during pregnancy.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Buchu is native to South Africa, where is it widely cultivated on hillsides. Buchu is also grown in parts of South America. Buchu is grown from cuttings in late summer and requires well drained soil and plenty of sun. The leaves are harvested when the plant is flowering or fruiting in summer.

CONSTITUENTS

Buchu contains up to 2.5% volatile oils which contain diosphenol, limonene and menthone.
Sulfur compounds
Flavonoids (diosmin, rutin)
Mucilage

USUAL DOSAGE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 - 2 teaspoonfuls of the leaves and let infuse for 10 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 2 - 4 ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

The leaves should be collected during the flowering and fruiting stage.

COMBINATIONS

In cystitis buchu may be used with yarrow or couch grass, in burning urination with marshmallow or corn silk.

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