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Peumus boldus: Boldo
Though it reaches a maximum height of 7 meters elsewhere, the boldo tree grows
as tall as 20 meters in its homeland of Chile. It has small, fragrant, whitish-yellow
flowers, and is dioecious, which means that male and female flowers develop on
different individuals.
This evergreen is easily recognized by its unusual leathery, stiff leaves with a
deeply veined pattern. The edges of the leaves curl downwards, while the upper
surface is covered with small bumps. Whether fresh or dried, the leaves exude
an aromatic fragrance that is hard to forget.
Boldo leaves are an important component of South American traditional medicine,
used as a diuretic, to promote digestion, and to stimulate the gall bladder.
They have anticonvulsant properties, and it is believed that they help against
rheumatism and worm infestations. Boldo serves a similar function in homeopathy,
where it’s used to treat intestinal disorders as well as liver and gall bladder
complaints. Taken in large quantities, boldo has emetic qualities, and its alkaloid
boldin can have a paralytic effect. The machi, female shamans of the native
Mapuche people of Chile, will also burn boldo leaves as incense. Boldo is even
cultivated as a medicinal plant as far away as Algeria. Today, increasing local
and international demand is threatening the sustainability of the boldo harvest
in its native Chile.
Audio file download
Peumus boldus: Boldo (MP3, 654 KB)
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