Herb Profile
Boldo
It is best framed as an aromatic bitter leaf botanical with modest human evidence.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
C PreliminaryUse extra caution — Avoid high dose or prolonged internal use; alkaloid/essential oil rich preparations may irritate the GI tract and are inappropriate in pregnancy, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Digestive
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding Without Clinician Guidance
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Boldo
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Safety & Cautions
Avoid high dose or prolonged internal use; alkaloid/essential oil rich preparations may irritate the GI tract and are inappropriate in pregnancy, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction.
28%
High caution — review carefully
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding Without Clinician Guidance
Safety classifications
- - Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- - Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
- - Anticoagulant Caution: Bleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Avoid high dose or prolonged internal use; alkaloid/essential oil rich preparations may irritate the GI tract and are inappropriate in pregnancy, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction.
Safety labels
- - Interaction-Aware
- - Liver-Sensitive
- - Anticoagulant Caution
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
- aescin
- Aged Garlic Extract
- ajoene
- Ajwain
- Allicin
- Garlic
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Archangelica
- Angelica Dahurica
- Angelica Pubescens
- Angelica Root
- Angelica Sinensis
- Arjuna
- Artemisia Capillaris
- Artichoke
- Ashitaba
- Ashitaba Extract
- Astaxanthin
- Berberis
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Blueberry
- Boswellia
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Carnitine L Tartrate
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Chuanxiong
- Cissus
- Citicoline
- Clove
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Commiphora Mukul
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cordyceps
- Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- crocetin
- crocin
- cryptotanshinone
- Curcuma Wenyujin
- Curcumin
- Damiana
- Danshen
- Devils Claw Extract
- Dong Quai
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek Extract
- ferulic acid
- Feverfew
- Fisetin
- forskolin
- Fraxinus Rhynchophylla
- Fucoxanthin
- Galangal
- Reishi
- Garcinia Mangostana
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Garlic Aged Extract
- Garlic Extract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Ginkgo
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
- Ginkgo Extract EGb 761
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- ginsenoside rg3
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Lion's Mane
- Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- Horse Chestnut
- hydroxytyrosol
- Japanese Knotweed
- Kudzu
- L-Carnitine
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Magnolia
- Mangosteen
- Maral Root
- Chamomile
- Melatonin
- MSM
- Myrtle
- Nettle Root
- Nigella Sativa
- Noni
- Notoginseng
- Ocimum Basilicum
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Oregano
- Paeonia Lactiflora
- Asian Ginseng
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Papaya Leaf
- Pastinaca Sativa
- Pau D'arco
- Perilla
- Phosphatidylserine
- Piper Longum
- Bifidobacterium Probiotic
- Lactobacillus Probiotic
- Probiotics - Bifidobacterium spp.
- Probiotics - Lactobacillus spp.
- Psoralea Corylifolia
- Pycnogenol
- Quercetin
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Red Clover
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Resveratrol
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Rose Hips
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- Salvia miltiorrhiza
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- Saw Palmetto Extract
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Selaginella Tamariscina
- Soybean
- Syzygium Aromaticum
- Terminalia arjuna
- Thunder God Vine
- Thyme
- Tongkat Ali
- Trans-Resveratrol
- Fenugreek
- Tripterygium Wilfordii
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Turmeric Curcumin + Piperine
- Valerian
- Vitamin D3 + K2
- Grape
- White Peony
- Willow Bark Extract
- Yarrow
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Early signal that needs stronger human replication before practical claims.
PreliminaryLimited Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Digestive Support · Hepatobiliary Support
Research maturity: Preliminary or mixed — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Avoid high dose or prolonged internal use; alkaloid/essential oil rich preparations may irritate the GI tract and are inappropriate in pregnancy, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Tacrolimus and herbs interactions: a review Abushammala I et al. (2021) | — | — | PubMed → |
García-Rodríguez C et al. (2025) | — | — | PubMed → |
Peumus boldus Extract Inhibits Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes Montaldo L et al. (2025) | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Aromatic herb/spice forms and essential oils differ greatly and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Boldo Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Boldo Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Digestive SupportHepatobiliary Support
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Boldo
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Boldo
Boldo dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for digestive. Limited Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Boldo, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.