Dr. Cruz recommends Chá de Bugre as an excellent diuretic, weight loss aid as well as general heart tonic that helps to stimulate the blood circulation.
Chá de Bugre is used worldwide to relieve coughs, regulate renal function, reduce uric acid, treat herpes and alleviate rheumatism / arthritis
Nutritional Outlook quotes - “Some of the best athletes were making functional drinks with Açaí and Chá de Bugre- surfers and jujitsu fighters,” he says. “They train very heavily, and they were looking for foods with really high nutrients. They found that this was the most powerful fruit they could eat—it’s rich in omega fats.”
Chá de Bugre
Ephedra's Out... Chá de Bugre is In!
Chá de Bugre has many properties and traditional applications in common with Ephedra, but unlike Ephedra, it has a positive impact on the heart.
Some key features of Chá de Bugre:
Powerful appetite suppressant- Has antiviral capability
- Combats viruses
- Reduces fevers
- Mild diuretic
- Increases thermogenisis and natural fat-burning
Café do Mato
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.
Even though the positive effects of Chá de Bugre have been known for centuries, it has only been a few years since any real scientific research has been conducted. Chá de Bugre is now known to contain caffeine, potassium, allantoin and allantoic acid. The allantoin and allantoic acid may explain the traditional use of the plant for wound healing.
The presence of these ingredients explains the power of Chá de Bugre to fight obesity and prevent cellulitide because allantoic acid is reported to reduce body fat and to stimulate the growth of healthy tissue. Also, potassium assists in muscle contraction, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in body cells and sending nerve impulses as well as releasing energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism.
The use of Chá de Bugre as an appetite suppressant goes back hundreds of years. Unlike most weight loss products and herbs that attempt to cut off appetite all together (then causing intense hunger when it wears off at the wrong time) Chá de Bugre gives one a sense of being full and satiated after eating only a few bites of food. This seems to promote much smaller meals, more often, which is what many nutritionists believe is the best practice for sustained weight loss by keeping the metabolism active throughout the day.
Other Uses of Chá de Bugre
Research from the Department of Virology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan showed that a partially purified extract (COL 1-6) from whole plant of Chá de Bugre exhibited an inhibitory effect on HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus). The activity of COL 1-6 on different steps of HSV-1 replication in HeLa cells was investigated. Under single-cycle replication conditions, COL 1-6 exerted a greater than 99.9% inhibition in virus. The extract has been shown to have a direct virucidal activity. And also, analysis of early events following infection showed that COL 1-6 affected viral penetration in HeLa cells but did not interfere with adsorption to the cells.
In 1994, continued research showed that the herpes simplex 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.
Dr. C.L. Cruz in his book, Dictionary of the Plants Used in Brazil, recommends chá de bugre as an excellent diuretic and weight loss aid as well as a good general heart tonic that can help stimulate circulation. It is also used in Brazil and Haiti as a tea to help relieve coughs, regulate renal function, reduce uric acid and externally to heal wounds.
Chá de Bugre tree
Chá de Bugre is a small tree growing 8-12 meters in height with a trunk 30-40 cm in diameter. It is 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, the tree is botanically classified as Cordia salicifolia and in Paraguay the same tree is classified as Cordia ecalyculata.
References used in this website
* Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.