Although it has been used for centuries, its fame really began in the 1960s. Dr. Theodore Meyer learned about the use of pau d’arco (pronounced powdy arco) by the natives of the Amazon rainforest. They had used the inner bark of this hardwood tree as medicine. Dr. Meyer followed his lead and claimed to have successfully cured five advanced cases of leukemia with it. Weed suddenly rose to fame! However, a decade later, the National Cancer Institute determined that the necessary amount of the cancer-curing drug in the herb would have too many dangerous side effects. As a result, the “miracle drug” lost its prestigious place.
Despite this negative report, pau d’arco has been used successfully ever since to treat such things as fevers, arthritis, infections, malaria, skin problems, cancers, and even complications of AIDS. Two reasons for the discrepancy between research and reality are as follows.
First, the research isolated the chemical lapachol in the herb that was believed to cure cancer. Since then, researchers have isolated more than 20 active chemicals in pau d’arco. Some feel that it is a combination of several or all of these together that makes it effective. Second, the use of the whole herb has been shown not to create the side effects that the extracted lapachol does.
Pau d’arco has effectively treated malaria, fungal infections, tuberculosis, strep throat, and dysentery. Taken in small doses it increases the activity of the immune system and in large doses it suppresses some immune responses such as inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory work has given pau d’arco promise as a treatment for arthritis, allergies, ulcers, skin problems, and other similar conditions. Add to that list diabetes, the flu, lupus, parasites, and skin diseases, and it’s easy to see why it was once considered a “wonder drug.”
This herb is available in health food stores in capsules, tinctures, and as a dried bark. The recommended dosage is one to two capsules or one to two tincture droppers taken one to four times daily, depending on the condition and the patient.
Tea can be made from the bark by adding one tablespoon of bark for every three cups of water. The tea should be boiled for twenty minutes or more in a non-aluminum pot. A cup of tea can be taken three to four times a day for acute conditions. Half a cup three to four times a day is recommended for other conditions. This herbal tea has a fresh and bitter taste.
Pregnant and lactating women should not use this herb until sufficient research has been done. It has been shown to have anticoagulant actions in some people and can cause anemia when used long-term. Possible side effects of ingesting too much pau d’arco include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and stomach cramps. Another precaution that consumers should take into account is to make sure that the product they buy is produced by a reputable manufacturer. Some tested have very few active ingredients. Pau d’arco imported from Argentina is generally considered the highest quality bark.
