Pau d'Arco Bark and Powder Profile
Also known as- Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabgebuia avellanedae, Lapacho, and Taheebo.
Introduction
One of the best known herbs from the Amazonian rainforest, pau d'arco is a key ingredient in the tribal medicine chest, used as whole herb to treat infections and cancer.
Constituents
Lapachol, lapachone, and isolapachone are the best studied chemical compounds in pau d'arco, although most herbal practitioners attribute the healing power of the herb to its tannins.
Parts Used
Inner bark.
Typical Preparations
Tea, tincture or encapsulation.
Summary
The scientific study of pau d'arco is still very preliminary. There is a great deal of practical evidence, however, that pau d'arco can be used with success to treat colds, flu, sore throat, and yeast infections, and there is laboratory evidence that the herb contains compounds that protect against tropical diseases, specifically malaria, schistosomiasis, and tropical fevers. The herb is added to ointments to treat psoriasis, and taken orally to relieve ulcers.
Precautions
Like cat's claw, pau d'arco tincture should be taken in water with a little lemon juice so tannins can be absorbed through the colon. Although some "scientifically" oriented natural health experts recommend taking pau d'arco in capsules for maximum absorption of the single chemical lapachone, most holistic herbal experts recommend taking a tincture in water and lemon juice for maximum absorption of the full range of healing compounds.
