Cha de Bugre
(Cordia salicifolia)

Despite the massive popularity of Cha de Bugre in Brazil, little has been done to analyze the plant phytochemicals.

Cha de Bugre is known to contain caffeine, potassium, allantoin and allantoic acid. The red fruits or berries of cha de bugre (resembling a coffee bean) contain caffeine. The allantoin and allantoic acid may explain the traditional use of the plant for wound healing. The main plant chemicals include allantoin, allantoic acid, caffeine, potassium.

In 1994, they showed that the Herpes 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.

Then in 1997, research with rabbits and guinea pigs validated the traditional use of the plant as a heart tonic when they reported cardiotonic and increased cardiovascular actions using a leaf extract.

CURRENT PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF CHA DE BUGRE

Cha de Bugre is a great appetite suppressant, but rather than stopping appetite completely (then causing intense hunger when it wears off at the wrong time) it 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 practitioners believe is better for sustained weight loss and keeping the metabolism going throughout the day.

It works best if taken 30 minutes to one hour prior to a meal.

Chá de bugre is not widely available in the U.S. market today, but give it some time . . . these types of natural weight loss aids are just as popular (and profitable) here as they are in South America - especially if they work.

Cha de Bugre Research