Pau d'arco

Pau d'arco or Taheebo is made out of the inner bark of a native evergreen tree of the Tabebuia species. Traditional healers used a healing brew to treat a number of illness ranging from fungal infections to the common cold. Currently, pau d'arco or taheebo is widely distributed among North American health-food stores and sold as 'cure' for cancer and other illnesses including diabetes, warts, vaginal yeast infections. If pau d'arco actually cured these diseases is a fact subject to dispute though. Recently, majority of herbalists believed that the lack of proven effectiveness and toxicity associated with high doses of pau d'arco as the reasons why they do no recommend the drug to treat cancer.

Pau d'arco has a number of health benefits though:

* Researchers found that the inner bark of Tabebuia trees contains powerful infection-fighting compounds called naphthoquinones. Lapachol which is one of the substances found in the compounds is very potent. Naphthoquinones aids in eliminating disease-causing bacteria, viruses and fungi. The term tajy from which tabebuia comes is from the Guarani and Tupi tribes in South America which means to have strength and vigor.
* Pau d'arco also contains anti-fungal properties that are similar to anti-fungal prescription drug ketoconazole.
* Herbalists also used this herbal medicine to strengthen immune system to counter cancer, HIV, chronic bronchitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
* It also treats vaginal yeast infections through its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal actions.
* It eliminates warts if you apply it directly to the warts though the anti-viral compounds in the bark.

Pau d'arco formulations include: tincture, tablet, softgel, powder, ointment, liquid, dried herb/tea and capsule. In using pau d'arco, the best formulations if you have internal problems are products that contain 2% to 7% lapachol. You can use products containing 3% napthoquinones as effective alternative. Herbalists prefer the latter because this formulation comes from whole pieces of bark instead of an isolated compound (lapachol) thereby allowing you more healing benefits. Skin irritation while using pau d'arco tincture or liquid extract to treat wart or fungal infection, add small quantity of water or vegetable oil to dilute it. If the irritation continues despite diluting then stop using it altogether. Protect the skin surrounding the wart with a small amount of petroleum jelly. To dilute the tincture or liquid extract of pau d'arco is always a requirement when treating genital warts.

Pau d'arco if taken internally can augment the blood-thinning effect of anticoagulant medications which could cause excessive bleeding and other problems. You should consult your doctor before taking this herbal medication if you take anticoagulant medications. If it causes stomach upset when taken, then take pau d'arco with food. Stop taking it if stomach upset persists.

High doses of pau d'arco are known to cause nausea, vomiting, excessive bleeding and other complications. You should see a doctor if you experienced such symptoms. Limit pau d'arco intake to a week or so since this herb could cause health risks if taken for longer periods of time. Pregnant and lactating women are advised not to use pau d'arco for the meantime.