Buchu Essential Oil

Buchu Essential Oil is extracted from the leaves of two Buchu varieties, namely Round Leaf Buchu (Agathosma betulina) and Oval Leaf Buchu (Agothosma crenulata). The plant itself is native to South Africa by which it grows as shrubs having leather-like leaves with oil glands on the underside. Back in the 1790’s, it was exported to Britain to treat cystitis, nephritis, prostatitis, urethritis, and catarrh of the bladder.

The healing properties of Buchu Essential Oil are attributed to the combined components of the two varieties. The main components of Buchu Essential Oil are the following: cis mercaptone, diosphenol, iso menthone, iso pulegone, limonene, menthone, pulegone, para diosphenol, trans mercaptone, cis acetylthiol, and trans acetylthiol. The only difference between the two varieties is the higher pulegone content of Oval Leaf Buchu than the Round Leaf Buchu.

Although toxic in nature, usage of small amounts is allowed for internal and external purposes.

Buchu Essential Oil Benefits

The following are the benefits and healing potentials of using Buchu Essential Oil:

• Prevents urinary tract infections as well as bladder, urethra, and prostate infections
• Kills germs and treats sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
• Enhances rate of metabolism and digestion
• Prevents septic wounds
• Relieves rheumatism and arthritis
• Removes extra gases of the stomach and intestines
• Keeps away insects (e.g. flies, mosquitos, fleas, lice and bed bugs)

Buchu Essential Oil Uses

1. Buchu Essential Oil as an Antiseptic. Wounds do not get septic or viable from tetanus due to its antiseptic property. When treated with Buchu Essential Oil, the wound becomes free from infections brought by microbes such as bacteria, fungi and, viruses.
2. Buchu Essential Oil as an Anti-Rheumatic and Anti-Arthritic. It detoxifies the body by removing the uric acid from the body. Uric acid is considered as a toxin that can cause gout if not treated promptly.
3. Buchu Essential Oil as a Tonic. It provides protection from a wide scope of infections. It also regulates metabolism rate when ingested in small amounts. By this, Buchu Essential Oil is considered as an overall health tonic.
4. Buchu Essential Oil as a Carminative. It removes gases that fill the stomach and intestines. When drank, immense pleasure and lightness is felt making the abdomen free from numerous digestive problems such as indigestion, vomiting, and etc.
5. Buchu Essential Oil as a Digestive. It fights indigestion caused by microbial infections. The secretion of gastric juices is stimulated thereby by facilitating digestion.
6. Buchu Essential Oil as a Diuretic. It not just removes uric acid but is also capable of cleansing the body from excess salts, excess water and fats.
7. Buchu Essential Oil as an Insecticide. It keeps away the insects and parasites when used in large amounts. This is only applicable when large amounts are used, thereby increasing its toxicity.

Buchu Oil Side Effects

Buchu Essential Oil is considered safe when only small amounts are added to the food and medicine. Larger amounts offer an increased likelihood of unsafety. Buchu Essential Oil may irritate the stomach and kidneys. Adverse effects in women are also recorded for increased amounts of Buchu Essential Oil can increase the menstrual flow. Due to its possible toxicity, healthcare is recommended to check the liver function of those who use Buchu Essential Oil.

The following precautions must also be monitored:

1. Pregnant and Breast-Feeders. Buchu Essential Oil causes miscarriage to pregnant women and is considered to be likely unsafe when drank during pregnancy. Low to no amounts of Buchu Essential Oil is suggested for these particular people.
2. People may encounter a worsened bleeding disorder because it has a capability of slowing down blood clotting.
3. Urinary Tract Inflammation. It is not advisable for swelling and in pain urinary tract.
4. Since Buchu Essential Oil slows down blood clotting, it is not advisable for people who will undergo surgery. At least two weeks before the surgery, the person should stop taking Buchu Essential Oil.

How to Use Buchu Essential Oil

The dosage of Buchu Essential Oil depends on the person’s age, health and other conditions. In line with how to use and to get the benefits from Buchu Essential Oil, here are some of the ways:

1. Buchu Essential Oil enhances flavor of fruits such as black currant. It offers a minty camphoraceous taste that can also be added to mint, peach, raspberry, berry, grapefruit, mango, strawberry, apricot, guava and other herbs.
2. Its fragrance is often found in colognes, chypre bases and fruity odors. Its odor may vary from fruity sweet to minty green.
3. It is found in pharmacies and other herbal stores and categorized as urinary tract antiseptic and diuretic.
4. Traditional Uses. Locals in South Africa use Buchu Essential Oil in anointing bodies. They mix it with powdered sheep fat. It is often manufactured to make tea, brandy or vinegar.
5. It stimulates and uplifts the body so it leads to a cleared and focused mind. In terms of its physical uses, it can be added with frankincense, cedarwood, ginger, lavender, jasmine, lemon, orange, neroli, palmarosa, etc. to combat infections.

How to Make Buchu Essential Oil

The Buchu leaves undergo extraction through steam distillation in order to produce Buchu Essential Oil. Shown below are the steps on steam distillation of Buchu Essential Oil:

1. Leaves of Buchu are extracted using a system of passing steam. It makes use of varying vaporization temperatures of the components of Buchu leaves. The oil is extacted after it has passed through the distillation column.
2. The oil can be separated due to its lesser solubility in boiling water than other complex chemicals.
3. The oil is now released and no damage is found in its delicate components. At this point, the water vapor and oil is returned to its liquid form in the condensing apparatus.
4. The two components left are separated through the Florentine separator. Buchu Essential Oil can now be placed in containers.

Buchu Essential Oil Recipe

Buchu Essential Oil can be made at home as long as you have a handful of Buchu leaves.

1. Place the Buchu leaves in a clean container and crush them into smaller pieces. This releases the flavor of the Buchu leaves.
2. In the container, pour 400 ml of vegetable oil covering all of the leaves.
3. Close the lid tightly and leave it in a warm place for a week.
4. After a week, use a cheese cloth in straining the crushed Buchu leaves.
5. Repeat the process until the desired result is achieved.
6. Store the Buchu Essential Oil in a new sterilized container.

Where to Buy Buchu Essential Oil

Local health shops and pharmacies sell Buchu Essential Oil. It can also be bought online. The recommended brands include Mystic Moments, Pilani.ch, Shea Moisture and many more.

More Information on Buchu Essential Oil

• It is a constituent of black currant flavorings that is widely sold in commerce as betulina.
• It is not used in aromatherapy due to its toxicity in large amounts.
• It is effectively used as a detoxifier.
• It can be ingested as an infusion or tea to ease coughs and colds.
• Several reports show that Buchu Essential Oil can block ultraviolet rays of the sun.