Pau D’Arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa) contains lapachol, an ancient nutrient that supports the immune system. It is also know as Taheebo, Ipe Roxo, Lapacho, Ipes, Trumpet Bush and others. It is extracted from the inner heartwood of the Lapacho tree found in the high Andes of South America. To reduce some of its mystic, the tree can also be found in Florida, the West Indies, Mexico and Central America.
Analysis of the bark indicates that lapachol has antibiotic, antifungal, immuno-stimulant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Pau d’arco also has a long history in herbal medicine around the world.
In South American herbal medicine, it is considered to be astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and laxative; it is used to treat ulcers, syphilis, urinary tract infections, psoriasis, gastrointestinal problems, candidiasis, cancer, diabetes, prostatitis, constipation, and allergies. It is used in Brazilian herbal medicine for many conditions including cancer, leukemia, ulcers, diabetes, candida, rheumatism, arthritis, prostatitis, dysentery, stomatitis, and boils.
In North American herbal medicine, pau d’arco is considered to be analgesic, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and laxative, as well as to have anticancerous properties. It is used for fevers, infections, colds, flu, syphilis, cancer, respiratory problems, skin ulcerations, boils, dysentery, gastrointestinal problems of all kinds, arthritis, prostatitis, and circulation disturbances.
Pau d’arco also is also employed in herbal medicine systems in the United States for lupus, diabetes, ulcers, leukemia, allergies, liver disease, Hodgkin’s disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson’s disease, and psoriasis, and is a popular remedy for candida and yeast infections.
Its use as a primary therapy in any serious condition should not be considered without further documentation.
A tea of inner bark pieces is made by simmering one ounce in a pint of boiling water. One cup is taken 3 or 4 times daily for acute conditions. In chronic conditions a half cup can be taken 3 or 4 times daily.
For aqueous, fluid or solid extracts consider 1.5 – 2.0gms per day in divided doses or 1-3 tsp. of tincture daily.
Large single dosages of pau d’arco decoctions (more than one cup) may cause gastrointestinal upset and/or nausea. Do not use in high doses unless under the advice of a qualified health practitioner; reduce dosage if nausea occurs.
There have been no reports in the literature of contraindications when a whole-bark decoction or tincture is used. However, lapachol has demonstrated abortifacient properties in animal studies. As there are no studies confirming the safety of traditional bark decoctions used by pregnant women, the use of pau d’arco during pregnancy is not recommended.