Already to the aborigines of the South African Cape region, bucco was considered an almost universal remedy. The antiseptic and antibiotic effects of its essential oils are still little known in our country, but are used in the field of natural medicine. That its aromas are also used by the food industry and are thus “on everyone’s lips” may surprise some.
Occurrence and cultivation of the bucco
The Bucco bush (Latin Barosma betulina) belongs to the rue family and is at home in South Africa. The up to two meters high, strongly branched shrub with the purple to orange-red branches is found exclusively in the north and northeast of Cape Town located Cape Land. In the 19th century it was brought to Europe and cultivated mainly in England as an ornamental plant. There, however, it bore no seeds and was so difficult to propagate by cuttings alone that it soon disappeared. In the period from May to July, the bucco sprouts small white or pink flowers, which later develop into brown fruit capsules. Medicinally, only the bright light green, leathery leaves of the plant are used, on the underside of which there are oil glands. The essential oils contained in them give the leaves a strong spicy aroma, reminiscent of a mixture of mint and rosemary.
Effect and application
After harvesting, the leaves of the bucco bush must first be dried and then stored in a dry, dark place as airtight as possible for better preservation. To obtain bucco leaf oil, the dried leaves are subjected to the process of steam distillation. The hot water vapor serves as a carrier for the organic, highly volatile components of the plant. Since these do not mix with the water, the essential oil spontaneously separates from the water as it cools. To obtain a single gram of the valuable oil, four kilos of leaves are needed. Medically relevant is the anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative, digestive as well as antispasmodic effect of the oil. Its aromas stimulate the mind and senses, so it is also used in fragrance lamps and room humidifiers. The food industry also makes use of the diverse aromas of bucco leaf oil, which are reminiscent of cassis and apple in their fruitiness. It plays an important role in the flavoring of beverages, foods and sweets. Because of the aroma, bucco leaves are also often added to tea blends. Bucco in the form of tea or drops helps with cystitis and generally has a positive effect on the kidneys and urinary tract. For the full effect to develop, two to three cups of the tea should be drunk per day. For external injuries, as well as for symptomatic treatment of rheumatic complaints, it is recommended to use a so-called “Bucco vinegar” or the ointment available in stores. Homeopathy uses Barosma betulina in the form of globules or as a liquid solution, each in many different potencies. Bucco leaf oil, with its aromas, also performs valuable services in cosmetics. It is used in perfume composition and for eaux de cologne as a fresh top note, as well as for fougère and chypre fragrances.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Already the indigenous people of South Africa, long contemptuously called “Hottentots” by Europeans, recognized the beneficial effects of bucco leaves. They traditionally used them primarily as a wound healing agent. At the time of the cholera epidemic, a so-called Cape tincture was used, which also contained bucco leaves. From 1825, the leaves of the exotic shrub began to be used for medicinal purposes in Germany as well. The Stuttgart druggist Jobst made a significant contribution to this. He published the experience reports of a doctor named Richard Reece, who lived in the South African Cape and worked with the remedy there. The main indication for treatment with Bucco in this country was initially urinary tract diseases. Bucco is generally effective in inflammatory processes in the urogenital system. Specifically, it is prescribed for inflammation of the bladder (cystitis), bladder gravel, gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted bacterial infectious disease commonly known as gonorrhea), irritation and inflammation of the urethra, prostate disorders, and dropsy. Thanks to its antispasmodic properties, bucco leaf oil can relieve stomach cramps and menstrual cramps.Used externally, it helps with neuropathic skin diseases and minor wounds and injuries. In the treatment of stomach disorders, the oil harmonizes perfectly with other natural remedies such as hops, lemon balm and St. John’s wort. Aromatherapy makes use of bucco leaf essential oil mainly because of its beneficial effect on the soul. This is described as generally soothing, harmonizing and calming. Under the influence of the Bucco scent, the inner forces gather, so that the patient takes new courage and even difficult situations seem solvable to him again. The harmony of the psyche is restored, the affected person is again in harmony with himself. To further emphasize the aroma of bucco leaf oil, aromatherapy likes to combine it with citrus scents or spicy notes such as mint and rosemary. Classical homeopathy also works with bucco preparations. In the drug picture it mentions in the first place purulent mucous secretions of the urethra, a chronically inflamed renal pelvis, kidney stones, as well as a chronic, mucous purulent and painful bladder catarrh. Furthermore, persistent urinary urgency, purulent urinary calculus, prostate complaints, and fluor vaginalis (vaginal discharge) are listed. Some of the ingredients of the essential oil can cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. Limonene in particular, as well as its oxidation products, has a high allergenic potential. Pulegone, which is also present, can cause irritation in the digestive tract and on the skin.
