An evergreen shrub. Leaves are opposite, sessile, about 2 inches long entire, and colour when dried red brown, coriaceous, prominent midrib, a number of small glands on their surface. The flowers are in loose, terminal, dioecious cymes of about 12 flowers each, on slender, pubescent pedicles. The petals are generally 7, strap-shape, and about 1/2 inch long, of a light-yellow color, and somewhat twisted. The male flower has numerous recurved stamens, with slender filaments, which are hairy at the base. The fruit is a small orange-green, 1-seeded drupe, which is aromatic and edible.

Analgesic, antiseptic (urinary), bitter, cholagogue, diuretic, stimulant and tonic (leaves).

Tropical Plant Database
Botanical.com
Boldo leaves
Plants for a Future
Boldo
The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy
King's American Dispensatory

1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, ascaridole, benzaldehyde, benzyl-benzoate, beta-pinene, boldine, bornyl-acetate, camphene, camphor, choline, coumarin, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, farnesol, gamma-terpinene, isoboldine, limonene, methyl-eugenol, p-cymene, sabinene, sparteine, tannin, terpinen-4-ol (leaf); 2-tridecanone, 2-undecanone, reticuline (plant)

To expel intestinal worms, for treating insomnia, rheumatism, cystitis, colds, hepatitis, constipation, flatulence, poor digestion, earaches, gallstones and liver or gallbladder pain (plant).

Contraindicated in serious hepatosis, and obstruction of the bile duct. Boldo has shown abortive properties and caused fetal birth defects in animal studies and therefore should not be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.