Buchu, Rooibos and Other South African Herbs
Buchu, rooibos and honeybush are South African plants used as foods and traditional remedies. What the research found, liver and medicine cautions, and what is not known.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What these plants are
Buchu, rooibos and honeybush are plants native to South Africa that sit between food and medicine. Buchu (Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata) is an aromatic shrub. Its leaves were used in the traditional medicine of the Khoi and San peoples and are now sold as buchu tea and dried extracts. [1] Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) are herbal teas that are popular in South Africa and have a growing worldwide market. One review notes that both are used traditionally for medicinal purposes. [2] This page describes them as plants with a history of use and then separates that history from what has been tested. Other southern African plants have their own pages: Sutherlandia and kanna, devil's claw and pelargonium and African potato.Buchu: traditional use
A 2022 review says buchu's traditional use in urinary tract infections and related ailments made it a popular remedy in the 19th century, especially in the United States, but it became largely obsolete once antibiotics arrived. [3] Today the main commercial uses are in perfume and food flavouring. The same review found only scarce pharmacological research. [3] An earlier review made the same point: the research on buchu has been limited and not coherently assembled. [4]What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Buchu for urinary tract infection or any other condition in people | The 2022 review found lab and animal work only. It states that health claims for buchu need randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. [3] | Traditional use only and preclinical. Proper evidence not found in people (we searched PubMed for trials and reviews). |
| Rooibos and blood sugar | A 2018 meta-analysis pooled 12 studies in diabetic rodents, not people. Blood glucose was lower in treated animals. [5] | Preclinical |
| Rooibos tea in people (cholesterol, antioxidant status, blood sugar) | A 2023 scoping review covered 18 publications with 488 participants in all. It reported better lipid profiles, antioxidant status and blood glucose, but said the studies were few, small and inconsistent. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Honeybush in people | A 2007 review found human studies of rooibos were limited and of honeybush were absent. [2] We did not find a newer human trial in the sources we read. | Insufficient evidence |
The human rooibos studies are small, and a cup of tea is hard to disguise, so expectation can shape results. Rooibos as a pleasant caffeine-free drink is a different question from rooibos as a treatment; for everyday use see rooibos tea.
Related pages
African traditional medicine overview sets out why this library names specific peoples and places. Historical use vs clinical evidence explains how to weigh traditional use. Talking with a health professional gives questions to ask.Frequently asked questions
Is buchu proven to treat urinary tract infections?
No. Buchu was traditionally used for urinary complaints, but the research we found is lab and animal work only, and a 2022 review says claims need proper human trials. [3]
Is rooibos tea safe to drink every day?
For most people, typical tea amounts appear safe. [9] Rare liver injury has been reported, including after very large daily amounts, so people with liver disease or on prescribed medicines should ask a clinician. [7][8]
Does rooibos lower blood sugar or cholesterol?
Small human studies suggest some benefit, but a 2023 review called the evidence limited, with few participants and inconsistent results. The stronger blood sugar results are from rodents. [6][5]
What is the difference between rooibos and honeybush?
Both are South African herbal teas from different plants, and both are used traditionally. A 2007 review found human studies of rooibos limited and of honeybush absent. [2]
Can rooibos help breastfeeding mothers make more milk?
No valid clinical trials support that use, according to the lactation database. Milk supply concerns deserve an assessment by a lactation professional or clinician. [9]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and cautions
- Liver. A 2013 case report describes a 52-year-old man with acute hepatitis and liver failure linked to a traditional South African tea made with rooibos and buchu. A liver biopsy showed toxin-mediated injury, and his liver function recovered after he stopped the tea. The authors suggested the cause could be varying composition in small-batch herbal teas. [7] A 2023 review concluded that rooibos seems safe in terms of liver harm for most people, though some consumers may be at higher risk and contamination of plant material may play a part. [8] A US National Library of Medicine lactation database says typical tea amounts appear safe, but reports raised liver enzymes and low platelets in a man who drank about 10 cups of red rooibos daily for over a year. [9] By contrast, the NIH LiverTox entry says buchu preparations have not been linked to liver enzyme rises or clinically apparent liver injury. [1]
- Medicines. The 2023 review also notes that rooibos affects some liver enzymes (CYPs), so it could change blood levels of some co-administered medicines. It advises caution for people taking prescribed medicines. [8] We found no study that measured this in patients. Ask a pharmacist, and see liver safety and how interactions work.
- Breastfeeding. Rooibos has been included in mixtures promoted to increase milk supply, but the lactation database says no valid clinical trials support that use. [9]
- Product quality. Contamination of rooibos plant material is raised as a possible health risk factor in the 2023 review. [8] See product quality and contamination.
When to get conventional care first
The UK National Health Service (NHS) lists burning when peeing, blood in the pee, back pain and a high temperature among the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, which can include a kidney infection; these need a clinician, not a herbal tea. [10] The NHS also says yellow skin or eyes can be a sign of something serious such as liver disease and need urgent medical help. [11] If you take prescribed medicines, are pregnant or have liver disease, talk with a clinician first. Never stop a prescribed medicine because of an herbal tea.
References
- NIH LiverTox: Buchu (2012-, updated 2023). Read 2026-10-22.
- A review of the bioactivity of South African herbal teas: rooibos and honeybush. Phytother Res 2007. Read 2026-10-22.
- Buchu (Agathosma betulina and A. crenulata): Rightfully Forgotten or Underutilized? Front Pharmacol 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- 'Buchu' - Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata (Rutaceae): a review. J Ethnopharmacol 2008. Read 2026-10-22.
- A Beneficial Role of Rooibos in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Molecules 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
- The health benefits of rooibos tea in humans: a scoping review. J Public Health Afr 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- Tea not Tincture: Hepatotoxicity Associated with Rooibos Herbal Tea. ACG Case Rep J 2013. Read 2026-10-22.
- The toxic contaminants of Aspalathus linearis plant material as well as herb-drug interactions... Int J Environ Health Res 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- NIH LactMed: Rooibos (2006-, updated 2026). Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS: Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS: Jaundice. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.