Pau D’Arco Taheebo Tea

As third generation health minded mom of four reaching out for knowledge into Gods pharmacy verses pharmaceuticals when ever possible is a way of life for me something I’ve enjoyed spending much of my free time doing since a teen a recent curiosity led me into looking into this interesting South American tree which has centuries of health lore associated with it.  Pau D’Arco the Bow Stick Tree

A beautiful flowering tree originating in South America traditionally has so many uses its hard to pin them down to just a few a list of “folklore” uses being infection, cancer, topical skin infections, prostate infections, pain relief, fights viruses, candida or fungal overgrowth, western medicine has begun to study some of them with possibilities such as helping UTIs with its antimicrobial properties, reducing inflammation by increasing the Nrf2-target genes a protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury or inflammation a 2001 study showed its ability to lower feelings of pain by reducing the sensory processing of it specifically related to arthritis, swelling and certain kinds of cancer.

One of the studied active ingredients in Pau D’Arco beta-lapachone was shown to inhibit the enzymes in virus cells which directly effects the synthesis of RNA DNA thus the virus is no longer able to take control over the reproductive processes of the cell, therefore it can neither replicate itself or infect other cells. Studies showed beta-lapachone to be a potent anti-microbial as well, able to neutralize such bacteria as Enterococcus faecalis, “Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive bacterium that can cause a variety of nosocomial infections of which urinary tract infections are the most common. These infections can be exceptionally difficult to treat because of drug resistance of many E. faecalis isolates.”  credit ncbi.gov and Staphylcoccus aureus  “Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or result in relatively minor skin infections. But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections. Treatment usually involves antibiotics and drainage of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond to common antibiotics.” (credit mayoclinic.org.) Similar investigations have suggested it may do the same to neutralize common colds “adenoviruses” influenza viruses and cold sores or herpex simplex virus.

Early studies showed that out of 14 Paraguayan plants commonly used in traditional medicine Pau D’Arco had the highest activity against Candida Albicans the fungus associated with oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections the lapachone and beta-lapachone have both shown to to be highly toxic to harmful pathogens such as E.coli, traditionally used for infections of the prostate it also is suggested help detoxify the liver, it can have a loosening effect on the bowel improving elimination and some research indicates its possibilities to heal and reduce the risk of stomach ulcers with its soothing anti-inflammatory properties.

Dosage is a matter of more is not always better as in high doses of many of the Lords healing herbs can come with risks of toxicity tea is recommended at 2 teaspoons per quart of water not made as traditional tea but simmered for a bit do help the components come out of the tough wood or decoctions of 50 grams bark to six cups water simmered gently taken through the day capsules 2-3 per day and tinctures or attracts taken as recommended usually 1 dropper full being the equal to 1 cup of steeped herb often dosages starting at several cups or fosses taken a day for a week or two then tapered down as symptoms improve. Pau D’Arco can be blood thinner and discontinued two weeks before any planned surgeries or avoided by those on contradicting medications.

Disclaimer. This article is for information purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice and has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.