Supplement analysis backed by scientific evidence · PT

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Limited evidenceGeneral health

Buchu

A South African leaf long used for urinary complaints. Reviews of it find essentially no clinical trials, and one of them says so in the title.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

  • Urinary tract use Limited evidence

    A review asking whether buchu is rightfully forgotten or underutilised concluded that its traditional reputation for urinary tract complaints is supported by essential oil chemistry and scattered in-vitro antimicrobial work, but not by clinical trials. An earlier ethnopharmacological review of Agathosma betulina and A. crenulata reached the same conclusion.

  • Species and quality are a real problem Limited evidence

    The two commercial species differ markedly in composition, with A. crenulata containing much more pulegone, and reviews note frequent substitution and inconsistent oil profiles between products. What is in the bottle is not reliably what the label says.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo trial-based dose exists. Traditional use is 1–2 g of dried leaf as an infusion up to three times daily; the essential oil is not intended for internal use in the amounts sometimes suggested online.
SafetyBuchu oil contains pulegone, the hepatotoxic and abortifacient constituent also found in pennyroyal, with much higher levels in A. crenulata. Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver disease and kidney disease, and do not take concentrated oil internally. A urinary tract infection requires proper diagnosis and antibiotics.

Scientific references

Where to buy

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