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Pau D'Arco - Pau D Arco Herb History and Uses

By: Susannah Singer It was toted as a miracle drug until the 1970's. The reason pau d'arco (pronounced powdy arco) reached such fame was because of the work of Dr. Theodore Meyer. Having learned about is power from Amazon rain forest natives, Dr. Meyer used it to treat leukemia patients. Five advanced cases, he claimed, were totally cured. But research by the National Cancer Institute isolated what they believed to be the cancer curing drug in pau d'arco but determined that the dosage needed to be effective brought with it serious side effects. This greatly dampened the enthusiasm for the herb.

In spite of this negative report, pau d'arco has since been used successfully to treat such things as fevers, arthritis, infections, malaria, skin problems, cancers, and even complications of AIDS. Two reasons for the discrepancy between the research and reality are these.

First, this isolated drug lapachol was not the only beneficial drug in pau d-arco. Researches isolated 20 additional active ingredients in the herb. Second, the effect of the herb was multiplied and the side effects minimized when used as a whole instead of isolating its parts. It seems the ingredients work to help each other benefit the person most.

For what medical problems besides cancer has pau d'arco been used? Start with flu, lupus, diabetes, skin diseases, parasites, ulcers, and arthritis and one can see why it was found on many people's bragging lists. Add to this its effectiveness in treating strep, yeast infections, dysentery, malaria, and tuberculosis. In small doses, pau d'arco increases the activity of the immune system, and in large doses it reduces inflammation and other immune responses.

Pau d'arco is available in health food stores in capsules, tinctures, and as dried bark. The recommended dosage is one to two capsules or one to two droppers of tincture taken one to four times per day, depending on the condition and patient.

If one wants to avoid pills or tinctures, pau d'arco can be ingested as a tea made from the bark. One tablespoon in three cups of water boiled for twenty minutes is best. Be sure to avoid using an aluminum pan for this. Once made, a half cup of the tea taken three or four times daily is adequate for most conditions. For acute problems, double this amount. It has a cool, bitter flavor.

Pregnant and nursing women should not use pau d'arco until it is sufficiently researched. Pau d'arco has been shown to have blood-thinning actions in some people, and may cause anemia when used long term. Possible side effects from ingesting too much pau d'arco include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and stomach cramps. Another precaution consumers should heed is assuring that the product they purchase is produced by a reputable manufacturer. Some tested have very few active ingredients. The pau d'arco imported from Argentina is generally considered to be the highest quality bark.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Pau D'Arco has passed the test of time as a potent herb with many health benefits. With the precautions in mind, you can reap the benefits others have experienced. Choose quality Pau D'Arco.

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