1 ounce $ 0.81

General Description: Tabebuia impetiginosa is a large tree with grayish green leaves and rose pink to purple flowers. Found in the rain forests and mountains of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil up to northern Mexico.

Chemical Composition: The most medicinal part of the tree is the inner lining of the bark. This bark contains anthraquinones, naphthoquinones such as lapachol, flavonoids such as quercitin and xloidone, alkaloids and trace amounts of saponins.

Pharmacology or Biological Activities:
Analgesic, Anti-bacterial, Anti Inflammatory, Anti fungal, Anti parasitic, Antioxidant, Anti Tumor, Anti Viral and Anti Yeast. The lapachol faction of Pau d' Arco has shown activity against colon, breast and lung cancer cells by weakening cell proliferation. Shows ability to stimulate production of red blood cells in bone marrow. Active against herpes virus. In vitro trials have shown strong inhibition of free radicals. Reports from South American clinics indicates that Lapacho lessens the pain associated with several kinds of cancer including prostate, liver and breast.

Traditional/Historical Medicine: Lapacho aka Pau d' Arco has been used for thousands of years by the Native Indians of South America and may well date back to the Incas. Historically the inner lining of the bark has been used to improve the body's resistance and immunity and to treat many kinds illness including arthritis, cancers, candida albicans, diarrhea, fever, inflammation, malaria, pain, rheumatism, ulcers, upper respiratory conditions.

Note: There is conflicting information regarding the safety and benefits of Pau d' Arco. Studies in South America utilizing the whole herb report promising results with little or no side effects. It is considered completely safe in whole herb form. Sometimes at higher doses mild nausea is encountered as a result of the body’s natural detoxification process. Based on conventional research and economic strategies pandemic in North America, studies on whole herbs is not deemed profitable. The chemical component lapachol was isolated from the benefits of the remainder of the herb and was found to be highly toxic. As a result, South American studies were discounted, further studies were terminated and Pau d’Arco has been identified as non beneficial.

click on button for our product

References:

Herb Society of America new Encyclopedia of Herbs and their Uses (Deni Brown)

Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook

Herbal Tonic Therapies (Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.)

Herbal Medicine, Healing & Cancer A comprehensive program for prevention and treatment (Donald Yance)