Any thing that is good the the liver will help your arthritis condition.
The plant is an evergreen tree that grow to about 18 feet with small berries, but it is the leaf that is of most interest and been used for centuries medicinally. In this case the plant is either male or female, so will need to plant one of each for it to produce.
Legend has it that a Sheppard in Chile noticed when his sheep ate a certain plant (now known as boldo) they were healthier in general and had less liver problems. It’s hard to imagine sheep having too many liver problems – maybe it’s from too much Chilean wine!!!
Anyway the plant is now particularly well known for helping with liver conditions, or as a preventative measure maintaining the health of the liver. Besides its positive effect on the liver it also encourages the gall bladder. Boldo is also known to intestinal worms, rheumatism, cystitis, colds, hepatitis, constipation, gout, and jaundice. In a general sense it helps to protect the liver and encourage the production of bile. This in turn can lower cholesterol and improve digestion.
Boldo contains many plant compounds but one alkaloid in particular is boldine has shown in recent studies to have properties that protect the liver and encourages the production of bile something people have known for centuries. This alkaloid has shown during studies to have encouraged digestive juices. In other research boldine has been shown to be a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and reduce uric acid plus an anti-oxidant with blood thinning properties. Some very new research is indicating that boldine increases heart flow, improving the heart function in general.
However, boldine is one of many plant compounds in boldo that work synergistically, this means it is better in the whole form with all it components in tack. This herb should not be used in high doses or for a long time without a break. If you have a sluggish digestion that makes you feel bloated and full then boldo might be the herb for you. Buy a couple of scrubs and plant in your garden. Make a tea pot of three heaped teaspoons of leaves to three large mug full of boiling water – leave to brew for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink one mug full and put the rest in the refrigerator, drink another cup around lunch time and one in the evening. Those other two cups can be warmed up or just drink cold. The taste is not too bad, the smell is quite distinctive and for this reason some people prefer drinking it cold. Do this for about 6 weeks and then take a break. If this does not appeal, tea bags are easy to find in most supermarkets.
Caution – avoid if you are pregnant as it has abortive properties. Avoid if you are taking a blood thinner like warfarin.