Scientific Name: Buchu
Other Names: Agathosma betulina, Barosma betulina, Bucco, Buku, Diosma

Who is this for?

Uses

Buchu is reported to have slight diuretic properties, meaning it may cause the body to produce more urine than usual. A number of buchu's components, which include diosphenol (also known as buchu camphor) and additional chemicals that belong to the flavonoid class of drugs, are believed to irritate the bladder, causing the release of urine. Diosphenol may also be a mild anti-infective agent. Both of these possible effects made buchu popular during the early part of the 20th century as a remedy for bladder, kidney, and prostate conditions. Now, however, the use of buchu mainly has been displaced by more effective prescription drugs. It is still often included in herbal combination products; although probably more for its pleasant, fruity taste than for any possible medicinal effects.

Because the amounts of buchu used as food additives are very small, they are not thought to present any dangers when taken in moderation. Certain individuals should not take supplemental buchu, however:

One of the chemicals in buchu, pulegone, may damage the liver. Although buchu contains only very small amounts of pulegone, individuals with liver disease or individuals who drink large amounts of alcohol should not take buchu.

Pulegone also may provoke the start of menstruation and it may act in other ways that could cause a miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women should not use buchu products.

Because it has been known to irritate the kidneys, buchu should be avoided by individuals who have kidney stones, kidney infections, prostate disease, or urinary tract conditions.

Precautions

Because their effects on an infant are unknown, buchu supplements should not be taken by women who are breast-feeding.

What side effects should I watch for?

Major Side Effects

Chemicals, including pulegone, that are found in buchu may cause liver damage. Liver damage can take years to develop and it may not have obvious signs. A doctor may have to test liver function to diagnose liver damage. A doctor should be notified immediately by individuals who take buchu and experience:

• Excessive fatigue
• Extreme widespread itchiness
• Intense nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pain or swelling in the upper right part of the abdomen
• Yellowing of the skin or the white parts of the eyes

Less Severe Side Effects

Buchu may trigger the start of menstrual periods. Women who take it may experience menstrual bleeding at unexpected times.

What interactions should I watch for?

Prescription Drugs

In case reports, buchu has been thought to increase the time blood needs to clot. When it is taken with an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug, the effect of the drug may be increased, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding.

• Antiplatelet drugs include clopidogrel and Ticlid
• Anticoagulants include heparin and warfarin

Diuretics ("water pills") such as furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide, promote the loss of water from the body. Since buchu is also a mild diuretic, taking it with a water pill may cause too much water to be lost.

Non-Prescription Drugs

Since buchu can inhibit the ability of blood to clot after an injury, it should not be taken orally at the same time as aspirin, which may also delay clotting.

Herbal Products

Theoretically, if buchu is used with other herbs that delay blood clotting, bleeding may occur. Some of the most common herbal products that might inhibit blood clotting include:

• Danshen
• Devil's Claw
• Eleuthero
• Garlic
• Ginger (in high amounts)
• Ginkgo
• Horse Chestnut
• Panax Ginseng
• Papain
• Red Clover
• Saw Palmetto

Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how buchu interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.

Should I take it?

Very little buchu is cultivated; most of the world's supply is obtained from bushes that grow wild in the Cedarberg Mountain region of South Africa. Extremely drought-tolerant, buchu plants have rubbery leaves that are spotted with tiny pockets of oil. White flowers bloom briefly during the spring. For medicine, the leaves are collected at the end of the growing season. Typically, the hillsides are then burned to remove weeds and underbrush that might otherwise choke out the buchu shrubs. Residents of the area use fresh buchu leaves to make a beverage or as perfume. Dried buchu leaves may also be used in teas; they may be powdered and mixed with ointment; or the oil may be distilled by a steam process. Buchu oil has a distinctive scent that is described as minty and fruity. Because it has a flavor similar to black currants, buchu frequently is used to give beverages, cigarettes, foods, or medicines a fruity flavor. Small amounts of buchu oil are approved as a food additive in Europe and the United States.

Dosage and Administration

Note: Oil derived from buchu contains a relatively high percentage of pulegone, a chemical known to cause liver damage. Buchu oil should never be swallowed and many sources discourage its use as aromatherapy.

Scientific literature offers no dosing recommendations for the oral dose forms of buchu that are available in the United States. Individuals who decide to use a buchu product should follow the directions on the label of the package that is purchased.

Summary

Despite possible minor diuretic and anti-infective effects, buchu currently is used mainly as a flavoring agent.

Risks

Chemicals in buchu are known to cause liver injury and to irritate kidney tissue. They may also cause miscarriage. Women who are breast-feeding should avoid it since its effects on infants are unknown.

Side Effects

Buchu may cause menstrual periods to start at unexpected times.

Interactions

Taking buchu may increase the effects of drugs and herbals that delay blood clotting or promote the loss of water from the body.

Last Revised October 5, 2007

References

Anon. Agathosma betulina herba. No date given. Available at: http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs/agathosmabetulina.pdf. Accessed October 24, 2006.

Anon: Buchu. In: DerMarderosian A, Beutler JA, eds. Facts and Comparisons: The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO, Facts and Comparisons. February 1998.

Coetzee C. Buchu commercialization: South Africa. Sharing Innovative Experiences (Vol.7). Agricultural Research Council (ARC).

Elsenburg, Republic of South Africa. No date given. Available at: http://www.ecdc.net.cn/events/innovative07/innov07_013.htm. Accessed September 2, 2003.

Grieve M. Buchu. In: A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publishers, 1971. Available at: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html Posted 1995. Accessed August 28, 2003.

Jellin JM, Gregory P, Batz F, Hitchens K, et al, eds. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 3rd Edition. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2000.

Lis-Balchin M, Hart S, Simpson E. Buchu (Agathosma betulina and A. crenulata, Rutaceae) essential oils: their pharmacological action on guinea-pig ileum and antimicrobial activity on microorganisms. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2001;53(4):579-582.

Shimoyama Y. Chemistry of buchu leaves. American Journal of Pharmacy. 1888;60(12):5-7.

Sim MJ, Choi DR, Ahn YJ. Vapor phase toxicity of plant essential oils to Cadra cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Economics in Entomology. 2006;99(2):593-598.

Simpson D. Buchu--South Africa's amazing herbal remedy. Scottish Medical Journal. 1998;43(6):189-191.

Last Revised October 5, 2007

Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.

In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

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