Supplements The Health Benefits of Cha De Bugre By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on August 05, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Print Cha de bugre is a substance often touted as a natural weight loss aid. Also known as "cafe do mato," cha de bugre is the fruit of the Cordia salicifolia tree (a plant that grows in tropical forests throughout South America). Often roasted and consumed in tea form, cha de bugre is also available as a dietary supplement. Uses of Cha de Bugre Cha de bugre has a fruit that resembles a coffee bean and it is high in caffeine. The fruit also contain allantoin and allantoic acid. Supplements with cha de bugre note that they might be used as an appetite suppressant and for the caffeine effect of increased energy. Caveats Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of cha de bugre. However, there's some concern that using cha de bugre in combination with certain medications (such as lithium) may produce harmful effects. Where to Find It Available for purchase online, cha de bugre can be found in some natural-foods stores and in stores specializing in dietary supplements. Alternatives Preliminary research suggests that certain other natural remedies may offer appetite-suppressing effects. For instance, there's some evidence that capsaicin may help reduce appetite, possibly by decreasing your levels of ghrelin (a hormone involved in promoting hunger). If you're looking to lose weight, the National Institutes of Health recommend following a weight-management plan that pairs healthy eating with regular exercise. Keeping a food diary, getting sufficient sleep, and managing your stress may also help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, there's some evidence that certain alternative therapies (including yoga, meditation, and tai chi) may support weight-loss efforts. Some studies also indicate that drinking green tea on a regular basis, maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D, and increasing your intake of fiber-rich substances (such as flaxseed) may help promote weight loss. A Word From Verywell Due to the limited research, it's too soon to recommend cha de bugre as a treatment for any condition. It should be noted that self-treating a chronic condition with cha de bugre and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you're considering using it, make sure to consult your physician. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cha De Bugre Supplement: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions. MedicineNet. Zheng J, Zheng S, Feng Q, Zhang Q, Xiao X. Dietary capsaicin and its anti-obesity potency: from mechanism to clinical implications. Biosci Rep. 2017;37(3). doi:10.1042/BSR20170286 Littman AJ, Bertram LC, Ceballos R, et al. Randomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(2):267-77. doi:10.1007/s00520-010-1066-8 Jurgens TM, Whelan AM, Killian L, Doucette S, Kirk S, Foy E. Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD008650. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008650.pub2 Additional Reading Hayashi K, Hayashi T, Morita N, Niwayama S. "Antiviral Activity of an Extract of Cordia Salicifolia on Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1." Planta Med. 1990 Oct;56(5):439-43. National Institutes of Health. "Weight-Control Information Network - Weight Loss for Life." NIH Publication No. 04–3700. January 2009. Reinbach HC, Smeets A, Martinussen T, Møller P, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. "Effects of Capsaicin, Green Tea and CH-19 Sweet Pepper on Appetite and Energy Intake in Humans in Negative and Positive Energy Balance." Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;28(3):260-5.