Buchu

Other Names: Agathosma betulina, Agathosma crenulata, Agathosma serratifolia, Barosma betulina, Barosma crenulata, Barosmae folium, Barosma serratifolia, Bookoo, Bucco, Buccu, Bucku, Bukku, Diosma, Diosma crenulata, Diosma serratifolia, Hartogia betulin, Parapetalifera betulina, Parapetalifera crenulata, Parapetalifera odorata, Parapetalifera serrata, Parapetalifera serratifolia, Round Buchu, Short Buch.
Buchu is a plant. The leaf is used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Buchu

• The "true" Buchu plant - Barosma crenulata - yields an oil high in pulegone and should be used with care.
• Buchu seems to be safe in food amounts and is possibly safe when used appropriately in medicinal amounts. But it may be 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, so liver function in people who use buchu should be monitored by a healthcare provider.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t use buchu if you are pregnant. Buchu might threaten your pregnancy. There have been reports linking buchu to miscarriages.
• If you are breast-feeding, buchu might be safe in food amounts, but don’t take larger amounts. Not enough is known about the safety of buchu during breast-feeding.
• Kidney infections: Even though some people use buchu for kidney infections, health experts advise against this.
• 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 interacts with Buchu.
• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Buchu.

Benefits and uses of Buchu are

The therapeutic properties of buchu oil are antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, insecticide and tonic.

• It is thought that the active chemicals in buchu may kill germs and also promote urine flow.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Kidney infections.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.