Pau D'Arco

 

Handroanthus

imetiginosus. 

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Vitaklenz: 150mg

Vitaklenz for Kidz: 25mg

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Pau D’Arco is a large canopy tree native to tropical rainforests in Central and South America. It grows to about 30 meters in height and can measure 2-3 meters in diameter at its base. The common name Pau D’Arco is applied to a number of species of the Tabebuia genus, but the preferred species employed in herbal medicine is Tabebuia avellanedae. 1 2

 

In folk medicine Pau D’arco has been taken to treat diabetes, ulcers, liver ailments, cystitis, prostatitis, ringworm, gonorrhea, syphilis, candida, anxiety, depression, and as a general tonic. 3 4 Natives from Central and South America reportedly used Pau D’Arco bark to treat cancer, leishmaniasis, leukemia, lupus and infectious diseases. 1 5 In North American herbal medicine Pau D’arco is considered to be antifungal, antiviral, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory and and antibacterial. 1 6 It is used for fevers, colds, flu, lupus, arthritis and circulatory problems. It is commonly included in herbal preparations throughout the USA for treating Hodgkin’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and candida infections. 1 Duke’s Handbook of Biologically Active Phytochemicals lists lapachol as being anti-malarial, bactericidal and fungicidal. 7

 

Pau D’Arco is taken for Candida yeast infections, various viral infections and parasitic infections. It also has anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties, and stimulates the immune system. 2 Pau D’Arco also actively inhibits the growth of several dangerous viruses, including Herpes types 1 & 2,  8 and Epstein Barr. 9

 

Pau D’Arco is a potent antioxidant. 8 It is considered to have a broad antifungal activity, with various extracts of T. avellanedae demonstrating action against A fumigatus, C. neoformans, M. gypseum, P. purpurogenum, S. cerevisae, and T. mentagrophytes, as well as 10 Candida species. Antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated also against MRSA, mycobacteria and Leishmania. 4

 

The anti-inflammatory activity of T. avellanedae has been attributed to its inhibition of Nitric Oxide, protecting against tissue damage or even septic shock. This has been applied to inflammatory diseases such as colitis and osteoarthritis. The bark extract of T. avellanedae has a protective effect against gastric lesions in acute and chronic ulceration models, and even produced antidepressant effects in in vivo testing on mice. 4

 

Lapachol, a chief constituent of the wood and bark of the Pau D’Arco tree, has anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic, and immunomodulatory activity, 3 much of which has been demonstrated in animal and other studies. 10 Lapachol shows antibacterial/anti-parasitic activity against Gram-positive and acid-fast bacteria, fungi and viruses, with a strong activity against the Brucella species. 8 Pau D’Arco contains compounds which inhibit pathogenic bacteria while having no adverse effect on beneficial probiotic strains. 11

 

Napthoquinones are natural aromatic compounds structurally related to naphthalene. Those found in Pau D’Arco are highly effective against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. 4 8 Clinical trials have demonstrated their effectiveness against methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections, particularly through topical application. 6 H. Pylori has also shown susceptibility to Pau D’Arco naphthoquinones, with the constituent 2-(hydroxymethyl) anthraquinone comparing well against common antibiotic drugs in antibacterial activity, 12 as has Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite behind chagas disease. 13

 

Pau D’Arco should be used with caution as significant evaluation of the safety of this herb in typical doses has not been conducted. Daily doses greater than 1.5 grams of lapachol have been associated with the most risk. Due to the lack of available data, Pau D’Arco should not be taken during periods of pregnancy or breastfeeding. 3

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