Buchu is a plant from South Africa. The leaf is used to make medicine.
Buchu is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), including infections involving the urethra (urethritis) and kidneys (pyelonephritis). It is also used by mouth for treating inflamed prostate (prostatitis), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), high blood pressure, fever, cough, common cold, upset stomach, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gout, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Buchu is applied to the skin as an insect repellant, as a deodorant, and for skin infections.
In manufacturing, the oil from buchu is used to give a fruit flavor (often black currant) to foods. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes and colognes.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Inflamed prostate (prostatitis).
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- High blood pressure.
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Common cold.
- Upset stomach.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Gout.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- Skin infections.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of buchu for these uses.
Is it Safe?
It is thought that the active chemicals in buchu may kill germs and also promote urine flow.
Buchu is LIKELY SAFE in food amounts and POSSIBLY SAFE when used as a medicine. But it is POSSIBLY UNSAFE in larger amounts and when the oil is consumed. Buchu may irritate the stomach and kidneys and increase menstrual flow. It may also cause liver damage.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t use buchu in amounts that are larger than usual food amounts if you are pregnant. Buchu is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken during pregnancy. There have been reports linking buchu to miscarriages.
If you are breast-feeding, buchu is POSSIBLY SAFE in food amounts, but don’t take larger amounts. Not enough is known about the safety of buchu during breast-feeding.
Bleeding disorders: Buchu might slow blood clotting and increase bleeding. In theory, buchu might make bleeding disorders worse.
Kidney infections: Even though some people use buchu for kidney infections, health experts advise against this.
Liver problems: Large amounts of buchu may cause liver problems, even in healthy people. Therefore, people with a history of liver problems should avoid buchu. Taking a large amount of buchu might make liver disease worse.
Urinary tract inflammation: Don’t use buchu if you have pain and swelling in the urinary tract.
Surgery: Buchu might slow blood clotting. There is some concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using buchu at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Lithium
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Buchu might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking buchu might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Medications that can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Buchu might harm the liver. Taking buchu along with medications that also harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.
Some medications that can harm the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, others), phenytoin (Dilantin), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and many others.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Buchu might slow blood clotting. Taking buchu along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Herbs and supplements that might harm the liver: Buchu might harm the liver. Taking buchu along with other herbs and supplements that might also harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage. Some of these herbs and supplements include androstenedione, chaparral, comfrey, DHEA, germander, kava, niacin, pennyroyal oil, red yeast, and others.
Herbs and supplements that slow blood clotting: Buchu might slow blood clotting. Using it along with other herbs or supplements that might also slow blood clotting could increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Some of these herbs are angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of buchu depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for buchu. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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