Peumus boldus / Boldo / Monimiaceae (Monimia family)
Information
This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.
Other Names
Peumus boldus, Boldea fragrans, Peumus fragrans, Boldo, Boldu, Boldus, Boldoa, Boldina, Baldina, Molina.
Description
Boldo is a tree native to the central region of Chile. It is a characteristic component of the sclerophyllous forest. They have leaves that resist long dry summers and cold rainy winters. A deliciously fragrant essential oil is obtained from the leaves. The dried and powdered leaves are scattered amongst clothes to sweeten them and repel insects. Boldo oil can be sprinkled around the house, or the powdered leaves can be burnt on charcoal to ward off evil spirits. The different parts of the plant have many uses, ranging from culinary purposes to tanning hides.
Scent
Aromatic, reminiscent to Camphor and cinnamic acid. It has a warm, spicy and slightly bitter flavour. A deliciously fragrant (but very toxic) essential oil is obtained from the leaves.
Contents
Boldo has many biologically active chemicals. At least 17 alkaloids have been documented thus far, several of which are believed to be Boldo's main active constituents. Much of the biological activity of the plant has been attributed to a single alkaloid called boldine. In addition to boldine, boldo contains ascaridole, benzaldehyde, boldoglucin, bornyl-acetate, 1,8-cineol, coclaurine, coumarin, cuminaldehyde, 2-decanone, 6(a)-7 dehydroboldine, diethylphthalate, eugenol, farnesol, fenchone, gamma terpinene, 2-heptaone, isoboldine, kaempferols, laurolitsine, laurotetainine, norboldine, norisocorydine, pachycarpine, P-cymene, P-cymol, pro-nuciferine, 2-octanone, reticuline, rhamnosides, sabinene, sinoacutine, terpinoline, thymol, trans verbenol, 2-tridecanone, and 2-undecanone.(1)
Historical
Indigenous uses of Boldo have been widely documented. Legend has it that the medicinal uses of the plant were discovered by chance: a Chilean shepherd noticed that his sheep were healthier, and had fewer liver problems, when they grazed on native Boldo plants growing in his fields. For many years the fruit has been eaten as a spice, the wood has been used for charcoal, and the bark has been used in tanning hides. A deliciously fragrant essential oil is obtained from the leaves. The dried and powdered leaves are scattered amongst clothes to sweeten them and repel insects. The small fruits are dried and used as beads in necklaces. When warmed by the body or the sun they release the scent of cinnamon.(1)(2)
The leaves are used for culinary purposes in a similar manner to bay leaves, and also used as an herbal tea, primarily in Chile and Argentina but also in other bordering countries.(3)(4)
According to monographs(6) Boldo contributes to digestive comfort and supports liver and biliary function.
Plant Description
Peumus boldus is an evergreen, fragrant shrub, from 15 to 20 feet high. It is native to the mountainous regions of Chili and introduced to Europe and North Africa. The leaves are opposite, coriaceous, and on leaf-stalks about 1/4 inch in length. The flowers are in loose, terminal, dioecious cymes of about 12 flowers each, on slender, pubescent pedicles. The petals are generally 7, strap-shape, and about 1/2 inch long, of a light-yellow color, and somewhat twisted. The male flower has numerous recurved stamens, with slender filaments, which are hairy at the base. The fruit is a small orange-green, 1-seeded drupe, which is aromatic and edible.(5)
Legal Remarks
This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries.
Click on the country link for further information.
References
(1) Boldo, Raintree Plant Database
(2) Peumus boldus - Molina. Plants For A Future
(3) Boldo, Wikipedia
(4) Boldo leaves, Gernot Katzer's Spice Page
(5) Boldus.--Boldo. King's American Dispensatory, by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D., 1898
(6) Document: NL E4-0-C-REF, Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Back
Home
Register
My Order 