Origin

Buchu consists of the leaves of several small shrubs of Southern Africa, belonging to the genus Barosma, of which B. crenata, B. cre-nulata, and B. serratifolia are particularly designated as sources of the medicine. it is collected by the Hottentots of the Cape of Good Hope, who use it not only as a medicine, but as an agreeable scent in their rough toilet, rubbing their greasy bodies with the powder.

Properties

The leaves are an inch or less in length, from three to five lines broad, of various shape, ovate, lanceolate, or obovate, delicately notched at the edges, punctuated on the under surface, of a strong, somewhat aromatic odour, and a warm, bitterish, mint-like taste. They yield their virtues to water and alcohol, though in larger proportion to the latter. These virtues depend chiefly on a volatile oil, and in part probably on a bitter principle, which ranks with the extractive matters.

Medical Effects and Uses

The use of buchu, as well as the name, was derived from the Hottentots; and it is but a few years since it came into notice in this country and Europe. it appears to be a local and general stimulant, with some tonic properties, and a disposition to operate specially on the urinary organs. The last-mentioned property is owing to the absorption of the volatile oil, and its elimination by the kidneys, so that it exercises its stimulant influence upon these organs and the passages by direct contact. it acts as a diuretic, and imparts its odour to the urine; but, if given in warm infusion, while the patient is confined to bed, it seems to receive a direction to the surface, and operates as a diaphoretic.

The complaints in which it is mainly used are debility and chronic inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney, ureters, bladder, and urethra, particularly when attended with excessive discharge of mucus, or a muco-purulent matter. There is nothing special in its action, nothing in which it materially differs, so far as the urinary organs are concerned, from oil of turpentine, except that it is milder. it is, therefore, applicable to the conditions before mentioned as calling for the use of that oil (see page 628), and may be preferably employed whenever an impression is desired less stimulant than that of the terebinthinate remedy, and more so than that of uva ursi or pipsissewa. its tonic properties also adapt it to cases in which the digestion is enfeebled, while the urinary apparatus is disordered. it has been employed in dropsy, in which it may sometimes be useful as an adjuvant, through its mild diuretic property. in rheumatism, moreover, it is supposed to be sometimes useful; and here, too, it resembles the oil of turpentine. Finally, it has been employed in cutaneous affections.

Administration

The dose of the powdered leaves is twenty or thirty grains, two or three times daily. The infusion (infusum Buchu, U. S.; infusum Bucco, Br.), which is directed by both officinal authorities, is much more used. it is made in the proportion of a troyounce to the pint of water, and given in the dose of one or two fluidounces. A Tincture (Tinctura Bucco, Br.) is directed by the British Pharmacopoeia, of which the dose is from one to four fluidrachms. A Fluid Extract (Extractum Buchu Fluidum, U. S.) was introduced into our Pharmacopoeia at the late revision. it is a concentrated tincture, and, in view of the large proportion of the buchu to the menstruum, is an eligible preparation. Each fluidounce contains the virtues of an ounce of the leaves. The dose is twenty or thirty minims, which should be largely diluted with water when exhibited.