Pau D'Arco
Health Benefits. Medicinal Uses. Preparation.
Extraordinary diversity of Pau D’Arco health benefits indeed puts on the “heal-all” type of Herbs. Although Pau D’Arco is not local to North America, and I personally prefer local herbs over imported ones, but it still is an amazing herb to keep in your Apothecary.
Common Names:
Pau D’Arco, Lapacho, Taheebom, Trumpet tree
Botanical Name:
Tabebuia spp
Parts used:
dried Inner bark
Taste:
strong, intense, woody, bitter
Bark from the Lapacho tree has been valued for centuries. Pau D’Arco has been used as a herbal medicine dating as far back as the time of the Incas, The Callaway in Brazil, and other Native South American peoples prized Lapacho as a cure-all.
In the herbal medicine systems of the United States and Europe, pau d’arco has been used for psoriasis, liver disease, Hodgkin’s disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson’s disease and allergies, high blood pressure, poor circulation, and anemia, and is thought to protect against cardiovascular disease.
Parts used: inner bark. for candida:
In the recent past Pau D Arco, and phytochemical compounds of the plant (lapachol and beta lapachone, for instance), have been subject to many scientific studies results of which have documented effective anti-cancerous, anti-tumor and anti-leukemic properties.
The heartwood of tabebuia aqvellaneda contains napthaquinones in lapacho have significant antifungul activity – against Candida albicans in particular and are antibacterial.
Also Pau D’Arco has great amounts of quercetin, which are thought to stimulate the immune system, cleanse the body and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
Key actions: anti-fungal, anti-tumor, antibacterial, immune stimulant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, cleansing, tonic, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, analgesic(pain relief), astringent (constricting)
Uses: Candida (Yeast overgrow), Liver support, Cancer, respiratory problems, colds, flu, cough, fever, intestinal inflammation, boils and ulcers, snakebites, malaria, external skin infections, poor circulation, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, Hodgkin’s disease, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, nail fungus and skin fungi.
Nutrients: selenium
Key Constituents: alkaloids, quercetin, napthaquinones, anthraquinones, and flavonoids.
Preparation:
Decoction: Simmer the dried inner bark for at least 10 min, then set aside and let sit and infuse for 4 hours to overnight. Strain and drink.
Do not prepare as an infusion/tea (that is steeped without boiling), as the components do not release easily into water.
Adult Dosage:
1 Tbsp (4-5 g) of herb on 3 quarts water.
Take 1 cup – 3 times a day
Children Dosage:
- 6 – 12 months old – 1/10th of an adult dose
- 1-6 years old – 1/3 adult dose
- 7-12 years old – 1/2 adult dose
Science:
nearly 50 studies and articles on Pau D’arco are listed in a PDF found here
Safety:
Caution for women wishing to conceive and it is not recommended to take whilst pregnant or whilst breastfeeding. High doses may cause considerable nausea, diarrhea or dizziness, especially in sensitive individuals, use with caution.
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** Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs that are provided on this site is for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice. Every attempt has been made for accuracy, but none is guaranteed. Many traditional uses and properties of herbs have not been validated by the FDA. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner before self-administering herbs. **