Agathosma is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, native to the southern part of Africa. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use. They are small shrubs and subshrubs, mostly with erect woody stems reaching 30cm to 100cm tall, but low-growing and prostrate in some species. Many of the species are highly aromatic, and the genus name means “good fragrance”. Some species of the genus, most notably Agathosma betulina are used as herbal remedies. The buchus grown commercially for their medicinal properties and essential oils are Agathosma crenulata and Agathosma betulina. Oil is extracted for use in manufacturing cosmetics, soaps and medicinally for the treatment of renal disorder and chest complaints. The medicinal properties of these plants were discovered by the Khoi who named the plants “buchu”.

Agathosma crenulata, commonly known as Oval-leaf Buchu or Boegoe, is one of the true buchus, long used medicinally. The volatile oils in the glands dotting the leaves and fruit emit an easily recognizable buchu fragrance when touched or crushed. This evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves is used medicinally. It forms a charming garden shrub with a rounded shape and grows to a height of 1.5m to 2.5m. Starry white, occasionally flushed pink, flowers decorate the shrub for 6 to 8 weeks during winter. The flowers are followed by green fruit, which darken as they ripen. Buchu is part of cultural heritage of the Khoi and San people who used the dried and powdered leaves mixed with sheep fat to anoint bodies. Leaves were also chewed to relieve stomach complaints. Buchu leaves steeped in vinegar to make ‘boegoeasyn’ or in brandy to make ‘boegoebrandewyn’, were an essential part of the medicine chest of the early Cape colonist. They used it for a variety of ailments to treat stomach complaints, worms, indigestion, kidney and bladder ailments. Buchu vinegar was also used to wash and clean wounds. For a relaxing bath, tie a bunch of buchu leaves in some old pantyhose and drop it under a hot tap as you fill your bath. It helps to ease backache and rheumatism.