Skip to content

Boldo

Boldo is a tree that grows in the Andes in South America. Interestingly, imprints of human teeth have been found on fossilized Boldo leaves found in Chile that are over 13,000 years old, suggesting that Boldo has been used as food or medicine by humans for a very long time. Boldo is used for weak stomach and intestinal cramps, gallstones, rheumatic joint pain, bladder infections, liver disease and gonorrhea. Boldo is also used to increase urine flow, to reduce water retention, to relieve anxiety, to increase the flow of bile acid and to kill pathogens.

How does Boldo work?

Boldo contains chemicals that may increase urine output, fight bacterial growth in the urine and stimulate the stomach.

How effective is Boldo?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Boldo for gallstones, rheumatic joint pain, bladder infections, anxiety, gonorrhea, water retention, constipation and mild stomach and intestinal cramps. Further scientific research is needed to assess the effectiveness of Boldo for these conditions.

Safety and side effects

Boldo may not be safe and harmless when used for medicinal purposes. Poisoning by ascaridol - a chemical naturally occurring in Boldo - has already occurred in people who have taken Boldo. Boldo could cause liver damage if taken orally. When using Boldo, care should be taken to choose products that are free from ascaridol. If Boldo is applied to the skin, skin irritation may occur.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Boldo may not be safe for use during pregnancy and lactation if taken orally in medicinal amounts. A chemical found in Boldo called ascaridol can damage the liver.

Blockage of the bile ducts: Boldo appears to increase the flow of bile acid - a fluid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile acid is passed through small channels called bile ducts into the intestines, where it plays an important role in the digestion of fat. These bile ducts can be blocked in some people. There are concerns that an increased flow of bile acid caused by Boldo may be harmful to people with blocked bile ducts.

Liver disease: There are concerns that Boldo may damage the liver, particularly in people who already have liver disease. For this reason, Boldo should not be used if you suffer from liver disease.

Operations: Boldo can slow down blood clotting, so there are concerns that its use could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. For this reason, you should stop taking Boldo at least 2 weeks before any upcoming operations.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining Boldo with the following medications:

Lithium

Boldo can have a dehydrating (diuretic) effect. Taking Boldo can impair the excretion of lithium by the body. This could result in increased lithium levels and serious side effects. For this reason, you should talk to your doctor before using Boldo if you are taking lithium. The lithium dosage may need to be adjusted.

Medications that can damage the liver

Boldo could damage the liver. Taking Boldo in combination with medicines that can also damage the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. For this reason, Boldo should not be used if you are taking medication that can damage the liver.

Medication that slows down blood clotting

Boldo could slow down blood clotting. Taking Boldo in conjunction with medicines that also slow down blood clotting could increase the risk of bleeding and the tendency to bruise.

Some medications that can slow blood clotting include aspirin, diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen, naproxen, heparin, and others.

Warfarin

Warfarin is used to slow down blood clotting. Boldo may also slow down blood clotting. A combination of Boldo and warfarin could therefore increase the risk of bleeding and the tendency to bruise. For this reason, the blood should be checked regularly. It is possible that the warfarin dosage may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Boldo depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Boldo. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Agarwal SC, Crook JR, Pepper CB. Herbal remedies -- how safe are they? A case report of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation induced by herbal medication used for obesity. Int J Cardiol 2006;106:260-1.
  2. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid= 786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view= text&node=21:3.0.1.1.13&idno=21
  3. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp, 1999.
  4. Lambert J, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:509-12.
  5. Monzon S, Lezaun A, Saenz D, et al. Anaphylaxis to boldo infusion, a herbal remedy. Allergy 2004;59:1019-20.
  6. Piscaglia F, Leoni S, Venturi A, et al. Caution in the use of boldo in herbal laxatives: a case of hepatotoxicity. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;40:236-9.