Carqueja

Botanical

What is it

Carqueja (Baccharis trimera and related Baccharis species) is a South American herb used in traditional Brazilian and South American medicine for digestive, liver, and diabetes complaints.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Digestive / liver support (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional South American use; limited modern clinical evidence.

Blood sugar (preclinical)

Mixed Evidence

Animal evidence; minimal human data.

How it works

Carqueja contains flavonoids (notably eupatorin), terpenes (clerodane diterpenes), and phenolic acids. Preclinical studies suggest hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and modest blood-sugar-lowering activities. Some animal studies show improvements in liver enzymes and glucose tolerance. Human clinical evidence is limited; a few small Brazilian trials suggest modest effects.

Dosage

Traditional infusion: 1-3 g dried herb per cup, taken 1-3 times daily.

When and how to take it

Traditional infusion taken before meals.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried herb / powder

Used in Brazilian herbal medicine.

Traditional infusion.

Safety

Generally well tolerated in moderate traditional doses. Bitter flavor. Limited modern long-term safety data.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Use cautiously with diabetes medications.

Interactions

May potentiate antidiabetic medications. Theoretical interactions with hepatically metabolized drugs.

Frequently asked questions

Is carqueja safe?⌄

Short-term moderate use is generally well tolerated; avoid in pregnancy.

Does carqueja help diabetes?⌄

Traditional and preclinical data is interesting; not a replacement for diabetes care.

References

Carqueja on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Carqueja on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Carqueja (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.