Boldo
BOLDO
Boldo is a tough, aromatic, ever-dependable liver hero of the Southern Hemisphere. Native to the Andes mountains of Chile, boldo (Peumus boldus) may seem like it’s here to charm you with flowers or fragrance, but it’s here to clean house. Internally, energetically, emotionally. This is your bitter, grounding ally when the body’s overwhelmed, the liver’s overworked, or the gut feels like it’s muttering complaints in every direction.
Boldo has been used for thousands of years by the Mapuche people of Chile, who revered the leaves for their ability to treat digestive issues, liver congestion, constipation, and parasites. Its tough evergreen leaves - strong-scented and slightly glossy - were brewed into infusions that not only worked medicinally but were believed to clear the blood, cleanse the spirit, and restore balance in the body.
When the Spanish colonizers arrived, they quickly learned from local Indigenous communities about boldo’s benefits. By the 18th century, boldo had made its way into European herbal medicine, where it was officially recognized for its power to stimulate bile production, detoxify the liver, and relieve sluggish digestion. It became a staple in remedies for hepatitis, gallbladder dysfunction, and what 19th-century doctors would vaguely call “torpid liver.”
And they weren’t wrong. Boldo contains a powerful compound called boldine, an alkaloid with strong choleretic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. It helps your body make and move bile, clear oxidative stress, and reset after toxic overload. Whether it’s overindulgence, medication stress, environmental toxins, or emotional buildup, boldo steps in like a botanical housekeeper and says, “We’re airing this place out.”
But boldo isn’t just about the liver. It’s also used for stomach pain, gastritis, urinary tract infections, and even parasites- especially in traditional South American and Afro-Caribbean medicine. Some curanderas also use boldo in limpias (cleansing rituals) to remove negative energy, restore focus, and ground the nervous system after shock, stress, or spiritual disorientation.
And then there’s its relationship to sleep and the nervous system. Boldo has mild sedative properties, and in some traditions it’s used to relax the mind, calm anxiety, and help with restless sleep- especially when that sleeplessness is liver-related. (Yes, your herbalist might tell you that waking up around 1–3 a.m. might mean your liver’s trying to talk.)
In modern herbalism, boldo is still a top-tier liver support herb, often paired with dandelion, milk thistle, or artichoke leaf in detox formulas. But it’s also respected as a plant of power- not something you take casually. Too much can irritate the gut or cause nausea, and it’s not recommended in pregnancy. It’s potent, pungent, and very much a know-when-to-use-it kind of plant.
Medicinal Uses of Boldo
Liver Support and Detoxification
One of the most well-known uses of boldo.
Stimulates bile production and supports liver detox.
Used to relieve liver congestion, hepatitis (mild cases), and gallbladder sluggishness.
Often used after heavy meals, alcohol use, or for general liver cleansing.
Digestive Aid
Acts as a carminative—relieves gas, bloating, indigestion, and cramps.
Helps ease constipation and stimulate appetite.
Traditionally used to treat dyspepsia and sluggish digestion.
Gallbladder Support
Promotes bile flow and may help dissolve small gallstones (under professional supervision).
Used to prevent or relieve biliary colic and other symptoms of gallbladder dysfunction.
Antioxidant Effects
Boldine has strong antioxidant properties that help protect liver cells and reduce oxidative stress.
May support cellular repair and regeneration in the liver and digestive tract.
Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic
Used in traditional medicine to treat intestinal parasites and infections.
Exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Diuretic Properties
Encourages urine flow, helping eliminate toxins and reduce fluid retention.
Sometimes used in kidney and bladder cleansing protocols.
Mild Sedative and Nervine
Traditionally used to calm the nervous system and relieve insomnia, anxiety, and stress-induced tension.
Especially effective when combined with other calming herbs like chamomile or valerian.
Menstrual and Hormonal Support
Sometimes used in traditional remedies to help regulate menstruation and ease menstrual cramps, especially when linked to sluggish liver function.
Headache and Migraine Relief (Traditional Use)
Used in Chilean folk medicine to relieve headaches, especially those related to digestive or liver issues.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
May help reduce inflammation in the gut, liver, and urinary tract.
Historically used for gastritis, irritable bowel, and low-grade inflammation of the digestive system.
Common Ways to Use Boldo
Tea (infusion): The most traditional method, especially for digestion and liver support
Tincture or extract: For stronger or more targeted use
Powdered leaf capsules: Used in digestive or detox blends
Paired with yerba mate: Common in some South American traditions for added stimulation and cleansing