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Pau d'arco (
Taheebo )
( Tabebuia avellandedae )
Family
Bignoniaceae
Synonyms
Lapacho, ipes, trumpet bush, ipe
roxo, tecoma curialis, divine tree
Character
Antimicrobial, antitumor,
antineoplastic
Description
Over 100 species of the
Tabebuia family grow in tropical forested areas of the Americas and are
native to tropical America alone. They are usually identified by their leaf
configuration and flower color. Trees which bear red, violet or pink flowers
are usually preferred for their medicinal value. It takes more than 20 years
for the true Tabebuia avellandedae tree to mature. It can grow up to
125 feet high in the Andes region of South America. This particular member
of the Bignoniaceae family is known for its medicinal inner bark and grows
in rain forested areas of Northern Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Amazonian shaman have used the bark in their folk medicine practices for
generations. Taheebo is harvested by peeling the bark of the lapacho tree in
vertical strips from the group up to approximately six feet. Only the inner
bark is pharmacologically active. The process of separating the inner from
the outer bark can be slow and painstaking. The bark strips are subsequently
cut into pieces and dried. ( NOTE: Dr. Theodore Meyer, who is credited with
bringing the medicinal properties of taheebo to the attention of the medical
establishment, was considered one of the leading South American botanists of
this century. Among his many accomplishments, his ongoing effort to save the
lapacho tree from destruction is among one of his most admirable. His
practice of hand stripping lapacho bark in Argentina resulted in leaving a
majority of the bark untouched, thereby ensuring the life of the tree. For
several decades, now, Argentina has protected her lapacho trees under a
"Save the Tree" program.)
Phytochemistry
16 quinones, including lapachol,
tabeuin, naptho and anthraquinones, iridoid glycosides, tannins, volatile
oils ( trace ), steroid saponins, saponins, benzoic acid, quercitin
Traditional rain forest use
Used for centuries by native
tribes, this tree provided local people with wood to make their archery
bows. Tabebuia species have been used by the Kuripakos tribe in leaf
decoction form for intestinal gas. People native to the Rio Vaupes region
claim that when steeped as a tea, taheebo bark effectively treats stomach
ulcers. The Tikunas use Tabebuia neochrysantha, called palo de arco, to
treat malaria and anemia and are known to drink bark teas three times a day.
The Taiwoanos people used dried flower mixtures for irregular menstrual
periods and the Boras of Peru claim that the bark has anti-rheumatic
properties. For over a millennia, Brazilian Indians such as the Callawaya
tribe, who are descendants of the Incas, have used the tree bark. In fact,
these are the people that originally named the herb taheebo, which means
"inner bark." According to local legends, these people discovered the
healing properties of taheebo by following the example of animals indigenous
to the region. Modern scientists have referred to the medicinal practices of
this particular tribe as the "Callawaya Pharmacopoeia." These people used
taheebo for arthritis, bedwetting, boils, colitis, dysentery, snake bites
and ulcers. Both the tea and paste forms of the bark have been used by
Brazilian tribes for malignancies, especially skin cancer. The Guarani, Tup,
and several other tribes called the lapacho tree tajy, which means
"to have strength and vigor."
Because of its extraordinary
medicinal powers, it was subsequently referred to as "the treasure of the
Incas." The notion that the Tabebuia bark can cure cancer has spread
through upper Amazonian regions.
Modern medicinal applications
Pau d'arco ( or taheebo ) is
relatively new to western herbalists and is harvested from the bark of the
lapacho tree in south America. Lapachol, the active compound found in
taheebo, was first isolated in 1884 by E. Paterno. In the late nineteenth
century, the healing powers of taheebo were recorded by several European
physicians. Taheebo has been linked to cancer cures and at one time was
investigated by the National Cancer Institute for its anticancer properties.
Currently, taheebo tea is in use for cancers and its antiviral properties
are under consideration for AIDS research. It continues to be used for
malignancies, especially leukemia, and is also prescribed for herpes,
diabetes, arthritis, and hypoglycemia. In addition, it is recommended for
blood disorders, candida, infections, liver disease, pain ( arthritis ),
prostate disorders, ringworm, ulcers, anemia, diabetes, herpes,
hypoglycemia, lupus, parasites, skin diseases tumors, venereal disease, and
yeast infections.
Authentication
Some of the chemical constituents
of pau d'arco have shown the ability to suppress tumor formation. Some
constituents or groups of constituents of lapacho have indeed been found to
reduce tumor viability both in experimental animal trials and in clinical
settings involving human patients. In addition, anecdotal data abounds to
such an extent that to overlook its importance is to turn one's back on a
potentially invaluable source of aid and health. Some researchers believe
that the lapacho content of pau d'arco is one of the most important
anti-tumor agents in the world. Pau d'arco has also proven its antibacterial
and antiviral properties. Through the research efforts of Theodore Meyer of
the University of Tucuman in Argentina, teams at the Universidade do Recife
in Brazil, and the work of Dr. Orlando dei Santi, data has emerged
supporting the therapeutic use of lapacho. Currently, no official American
medical opinion on the effectiveness of taheebo as a cancer treatment exists
due to the fact that cancer testing was subsequently halted after 1970.
Safety
Taking this herb in tea form is
recommended and generally considered safe. in unusual cases, mild nausea or
a laxative effect has occurred. Rotating pau d'arco therapy with mathake tea
is sometimes advised. Do not take lapacho compounds which have been isolated
from pau d'arco -- use the whole herb. |
