Pau D'Arco bark - course cut

Excerpts from the book The How to Herb Book

Pau d' Arco (Taheebo) comes from the inner bark of the Red Lapacho tree in the Andes of South America. It has been used for centuries. Theodoro Meyer of the National University of Tucuman, Argentina was the first modern scientist to study Taheebo’s chemical composition. He found it contained XYLOIDIN – an antibiotic with viricidal properties. Also contains LASPACHOL – an element noted for its antitumor activity.

• Used for many disorders, considered an "everything" herb.
• Make tea of 1 heaping Tbsp. Stepped for 5-20 minutes in 4-6 cups of water and drink.
• There is some evidence that some cancers are caused by virus. Many people use Taheebo (Pau d’ Arco) in fighting cancer.
• Used for all skin diseases.
• Good for sores, even old ones, used externally.

Has been used in the following:

Excerpts from the book Nutritional Herbology

The Incas and native tribes of South America use pau d’arco bark externally as a poultice or decoction for treating skin diseases including eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, hemorrhoids and skin cancers.

A tea made from the bark is used as a blood purifier, to treat ulcers and rheumatism and is said to cure leukemia. It is also diuretic and antipyretic.

The recent popularity of pau d’arco in western herbology is attributed to its antifungal activity in treating systemic yeast infections like candida albicans.

Yeast infections often accompany or follow antibiotic therapy and can be especially resistant to conventional treatment. The antifungal action of pau d’arco is used to combat these infections by drinking the tea thrice daily.

Contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues and are anti-fungal. It also contains bitter compounds that have anti-tumor activity especially in certain blood and skin cancers. Pau d’arco is an excellent herbal source of calcium. It has been used to treat fungal infections, inflammatory skin conditions, leukemia, dysentery, jaundice, ulcers, and rheumatism.

Pau D' Arco is high or very high on the following nutrients:

Tid Bits You'll Want to Know:

Uses: It's mostly used for internal applications: teas, tinctures, capsules, food recipes, etc. Our two favorite uses are in teas and meals. Like many other bulk herbs, we add it to many dishes (salads, meat dishes, soups, stews, etc.) in small amounts for added nutrition and fiber without affecting the flavor. Pau D' Arco can be used to benefit men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing) and children. It can be used as often as you would like.

Voice of Experience: We use Pau D' Arco often in teas as the taste is absolutely fabulous. We also use it in tincture combinations pertaining to any fungal infections, cancers, skin conditions and digestive problems.

Storage: It should be kept in an airtight container and stored in a dark, dry, and cool place. Refrigeration or freezing is not necessary.

Questions?: Check out Frequently Asked Questions.

Gayle
May 19, 2008 at 11:35 am

I am having digestive problems and a friend suggested drinking this tea. She has had wonderful results. My problem: I am on Coumadin for heart valve replacement surgery 4 years ago. I also have pulmonary hypertension and have been told by doctors not to take herbs. I have tried all the drugs given to me by my doctors with little results. Will these tea interupt my blood thinner? I would like to try it, but a little concerned.
Thank you for your help!

lisa
July 21, 2008 at 5:15 am

I have recently been diagnosed with hypercalcemia due to probable parathyroid tumor. Would the taheebo increase the calcium, thus making me more symptomatic? I have friends who have had remarkable cancer recoveries they attribute to this bark and I am wondering if this is a potential therapy to shrink my non-cancer tumors without adverse side-effects and eliminate the need for surgery. Thank-you!

Joel
June 30, 2009 at 10:00 am

Pau D'Arco can thin blood, so taking it while taking other blood thinning medications is not a good idea

iggy
July 22, 2011 at 4:25 am

I take warfarin comudin blood thinner since my heart valve replacement in 2001 - its metal. Paul D arco could be a replacement for this blood thinner if regulated properly do you think? Would be great to get off this rat poison!!!

VANESSA
August 8, 2009 at 1:18 pm

MY MOTHER HAD A KIDNEY REMOVED 5 MONTHS AGO IT WAS CANCER ON THE KIDNEY NOW SHE HAS CANCER ON HER NECK IN HER LYMPHNOTES AND STARTED CHEMO CAN SHE STILL TAKE THIS TEA OR WILL IT INTERFERE WITH THE CHEMO. SHE IS DRINKING IT TWICE A DAY . SHE IS 79 YRS OLD

Teri
November 6, 2009 at 11:36 am

I have a friend that drank the tea while having chemo and she said it helped with the nausea and over all she felt better than when she didn't drink the tea.

cynthia mccoy
July 6, 2010 at 12:55 am

Although it is true that if you are taking strong blood thinners you would have a problem with excess blood thinning if you drank a lot, I do hope that those who asked about a probable parathyroid tumor, and to the person who's mother has cancer and is undergoing chemo, that you will drink as much of this strong tea, simmered for at least 1/2 hr in glass pot or stainless steel, then adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar after it cools (to better absorb the tannins), because it WILL help you a lot. 8 cups at least. a day. It will help normalize your blood calcium, shrink your tumors, and will make you feel a lot better. Try it, don't worry. Yes, you certainly can use it during chemo. Best of luck.