Chá de bugre

(Cordia salicifolia)

Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Cordia
Species: salicifolia
Synonyms: Cordia ecalyculata Vell.
Ethnic names: Chá de bugre, porangaba, cafezinho, café do mato, claraiba, café de bugre, cha de frade, louro-salgueiro, louro-mole, boid d'inde, bois d'ine, coquelicot, grao-do-porco, bugrinho, chá-de-negro-mina, laranjeira-do-mato, rabugem
Parts Used: Leaves, Fruit, Bark

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: decreases appetite reduces cellulite increases urination supports heart stimulates

Other Actions: kills viruses reduces fever

Standard Dosage: Leaves. Infusion: 1 cup 1/2 to 1 hour before meals; Tincture: 2-3 ml 2-3 times daily; Capsules: 2-3 g twice daily

Chá de bugre is a small tree indigenous to Brazil and can be found growing predominately in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Acre and Goias. It is also found in tropical forest areas of Argentina and Paraguay. In Brazil, it is commonly called café do mato (coffee of the woods) because it produces a red fruit resembling a coffee bean which is roasted and brewed into tea as a coffee substitute.

Despite the popularity of chá de bugre in Brazil very little has been done to analyze the phytochemicals in the plant. At present it is known to contain caffeine, potassium, allantoin and allantoic acid.

As well, very little clinical research or interest has been shown to study the plant in Brazil. A Japanese university however has discovered some new uses for chá de bugre. In 1990, they demonstrated that a leaf extract reduced herpes virus penetration by 99% when they pre-treated cells with the extract. In 1994, they demonstrated that the Herpes virus yield was reduced by 33% with as little as 0.25 mcg/ml and also discovered that it had toxic activity against cancer cells (demonstrating a 40% inhibition) utilizing an extract of the branches and leaves. Then in 1997, a research validated the traditional use of the plant as a heart tonic when they reported cardiotonic and increased cardiovascular actions using a leaf extract.

Today, chá de bugre products are highly commercialized as a weight loss aid in Brazil where tea bags, fluid extracts and tinctures of chá de bugre are commonly seen in pharmacies, stores, and even in the beach-front eateries and refreshment stands along Rio de Janeiro's beaches . It has long been a popular weight loss product which has been marketed as a diuretic, appetite suppressant, and believed to help prevent or reduce fatty deposits and cellulite.
It is also used in folk medicine of Brazil and Haiti as a tea to help relieve coughs, regulate renal function, reduce uric acid and externally to heal wounds.

Following up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of this plant.

Region	Uses
Brazil	as a heart tonic, circulatory stimulant, and diuretic; for arthritis, cellulite, circulatory insufficiency, cough, energy, fever, gout, kidney stones, obesity, renal insufficiency, rheumatism, wounds
Haiti	as a digestive stimulant, and for obesity
Japan	as an antiviral; and for herpes

CHÁ DE BUGRE PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	infusion
Main Actions (in order):	appetite suppressant, diuretic, stimulant, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), antiviral
Main Uses:	for weight loss (as a appetite suppressant) as a mild diuretic for cellulite to tone, balance, and strengthen heart function for herpes simplex
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	anticancerous, antiviral, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart)
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	appetite suppressant, cough suppressant, diuretic, febrifuge (reduces fever), stimulant, wound healer
Traditional Remedy:	Infusion: One cup of a leaf infusion 2-3 times daily thirty minutes before meals Tincture: 2-3 ml of a 4:1 leaf tincture twice daily. Tablets/Capsules: 2 to 3 grams of powdered leaf in tablets or capsules 1-3 times daily
Contraindications:	None reported. However, it contains naturally occurring caffeine.
Drug Interactions:	None reported.

WARNINGS: Information, statements and products on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The natural properties of the botanicals are only referred to their common uses among folk and herbal traditions. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease as well. It's not meant to give any suggestion of diagnosis or disease treatment. Please see a doctor when needed.