|
The health benefits of Buchu Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like anti septic, anti rheumatic & anti arthritic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, insecticide and tonic.
Buchu is native to South Africa. There are two varieties of Buchu, both of them having more or less similar medicinal properties and composition of their essential oils. The first one is called Round Leaf Buchu and is botanically known as Agothosma Betulina or Barosma Betulina. The main constituents of the essential oil obtained from this variety are cis mercaptone, diosphenol, iso menthone, iso pulegone, limonene, menthone, pulegone, para diosphenol and trans mercaptone. The second one is called Oval Leaf Buchu or True Buchu. Its botanical name is Agothosma Crenulata or Barosma Crenulata and the chief constituents of its essential oil are cis acetylthiol, cis mercaptone, diosphenol, iso menthone, iso pulegone, limonene, menthone, pulegone, para diosphenol, trans mercaptone and trans acetylthiol. The Essential Oil of Oval Leaf Buchu or the True Buchu is higher in pulegone content than that of Round Leaf Buchu. There are a few other varieties of Buchu available in South Africa but are not used for medicinal purposes. The essential oils obtained from both the varieties of Buchu are toxic in nature and therefore not generally used in aromatherapy. Further, high care should be taken while using these oils or internal or external purposes. In both the varieties discussed above, the essential oils are extracted through steam distillation of dried leaves.
Let us now have a look at the medicinal properties of these oils. Since they share similar medicinal properties, therefore they have not been separately discussed here.
- Anti Septic: Wounds should always be treated promptly with an anti septic and not delayed, since delaying makes them prone to infections from microbes (bacteria, fungi etc.). Buchu Essential Oil is a good choice to protect the wounds from being septic or from catching tetanus. This oil also acts as an anti septic for the urinary system (urinary bladder, urinary tracts and the urethra) and for infections in the colon, prostrate and the kidneys.
- Anti Rheumatic & Anti Arthritic: This essential works good in giving relief from rheumatism and arthritis by detoxifying the body through removal of toxins (uric acid etc.) from the body, as it has diuretic properties.
- Carminative: This oil also helps removal of gases from the stomach and the intestines, thus giving feeling of immense pleasure, relaxation, lightness and relief from heaviness in the chest and the abdominal region, loss of appetite, nausea, drowsy feeling, indigestion, vomiting, headache, stomachache, flatulence, chest pain and rheumatism.
- Digestive: The Essential Oil of Buchu aids digestion by fighting indigestion caused by the microbial or bacterial action. It also stimulates secretion of digestive juices into the stomach and thereby facilitates digestion.
- Diuretic: Buchu Essential Oil promotes removal of unwanted substances, such as toxins like uric acid, excess salts, excess water and fat, by increasing urination, both by frequency and by quantity. This also helps keep the urinary tracts and the kidneys clean and free from infections.
- Insecticide: Being toxic in nature, Buchu Essential Oil kills insects and acts as an insecticide. It can be effectively applied to keep away parasites and other insects such as flies, mosquitoes, fleas, lice, bed-bugs etc.
- Tonic: Despite being toxic in nature, the Essential Oil of Buchu acts as an overall health tonic, by giving protection from infections and regularizing rate of metabolism.
- Other Benefits: It can be used to treat cystitis, cellulite, bladder ailments etc. It is an efficient detoxifier too. There are reports of this oil being capable of blocking ultra violet rays of the Sun. It can also be used to get relief from sprains.
Few Words of Caution: The Essential Oil of Buchu is toxic in nature and should be used in mild doses. It should never be used during pregnancy.
Blending: The Essential Oil of Buchu blends fine with those of cedar wood, frankincense, ginger, jasmine lavender, lemon, neroli, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood and ylang-ylang.
This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee
Back to List of Essential Oils
|
