Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurported BenefitsRisksDosageAntioxidant Foods
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purported Benefits
Risks
Dosage
Antioxidant Foods
Boldo tea is made from the leaves of the boldo plant (Pemus boldus), an evergreen shrub or small tree with greenish fruits that is indigenous to South America. Boldo is found mainly in Chile and Peru, but it also grows in countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, and Morocco.
There are several species of boldo, each with varying effects when ingested. Boldo is commonly used fortherapeutic purposes. However, there is limited quality research supporting its purported health benefits beyond being a source of antioxidants.
Research has discovered potentially dangerous side effects of consuming boldo, particularly during pregnancy and in people with liver health problems.
Alfribeiro / Getty Images
Safety
Boldo Tea Leaf Benefits
Boldo is used in several areas of the world for alleged benefits such as the following:
Very little research supports the efficacy of boldo products in treating or preventing these or other health issues. The research that does exist is largely based on animal studies and in vitro studies (outside the body, such as in a petri dish).
Antioxidants have health benefits, including promoting cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of developing certain cancers.
The drying process for boldo may affect the levels of components with antioxidant properties, such asphenoliccompounds.Antioxidants can also be found in many other foods, such asfruits and vegetables.
Compounds in BoldoBoldo contains more than 30 compounds, including:AlkaloidsFlavonoidsKaempferol derivativesPhenolic acidsProanthocyanidinsQuercetinglycosidesVolatile oils
Compounds in Boldo
Boldo contains more than 30 compounds, including:AlkaloidsFlavonoidsKaempferol derivativesPhenolic acidsProanthocyanidinsQuercetinglycosidesVolatile oils
Boldo contains more than 30 compounds, including:
Interactions, Risks, and Side Effects
While boldo is often used with the intention of promoting liver andgallbladderhealth, research has found boldo could cause liver toxicity, especially in people with existing liver problems.
Boldo has been found to cause health risks during pregnancy, including:
Other potential negative effects associated with boldo consumption include:
Dosage Considerations
Potency and level of toxicity depend on factors such as the species of boldo, the form it is in, extraction methods and materials, other ingredients used in production or in the product itself, the amount of boldo in the product, and more.
Boldo should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. If used regularly, periodicliver function evaluationsmay be recommended.
According to Kaiser Permanente, the dried boldo leaf can be used as an infusion at 3 grams per day. Boldo should not be ingested for more than three to four weeks.
Other Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Foods rich in antioxidantsthat do not carry the potential risks associated with boldo include:
Fruits such as:
Vegetables such as:
Other foods such as:
Eating a wide variety of foods that contain antioxidants is important to ensure you are getting many different types of antioxidants and the various benefits associated with them.
Summary
Boldo is suggested to have a number of health uses, but there is a lack of quality research to support using boldo medicinally or therapeutically.
Boldo containsantioxidants, which help protect cell health and play a role in preventing certain health conditions.
Boldo is associated with a number of risks, including pregnancy complications and organ damage, particularly of the liver and kidney. Boldo should not be taken in high doses, and not for longer than three or four weeks. It should be taken under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Many foods are high in antioxidants that don’t carry the risks associated with boldo, including many fruits, vegetables, whole grains,nuts, seeds, and legumes.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Texas at El Paso.Boldo.
Souza GAB de, Oliveira VM, Soares LS, Baldoni NR, Chequer FMD, Couto RO do.Safety of Boldo phytomedicines following systemic administration: a systematic review of pre-clinical studies.Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais/Brazilian Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2023;25(1):29-44.
Cassels BK, Fuentes-Barros G, Castro-Saavedra S.Boldo, its secondary metabolites and their derivatives.Current Traditional Medicine. 5(1):31-65. doi:10.2174/2215083804666181113112928
Abouelela MB, Naimy RA, Elshafey OA, et al.Boldo phytochemical and pharmacological activities updated mini-review.ERU Research Journal. 2023;2(2):308-319. doi:10.21608/erurj.2023.203801.1018
Rodríguez M. Bertolino M. Irazusta A. Irazoqui M. Medrano A.In vitro bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity of extracts obtained from boldo leaves (Peumus boldus) for its application as a functional ingredient.Proceedings.2021;68,x.
Kaiser Permanente.Boldo.
Amaral JF do, Pafo F da VE, Silva AP da, et al.Medicinal use of the main Boldo species in Brazil and in Lusophone Africa countries.Int J Adv Eng Res Sci. 2023;10(1). doi:10.22161/ijaers.101.2
Carlsen MH, Halvorsen BL, Holte K, et al.The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide.Nutr J. 2010;9:3. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Antioxidants.
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