Pau d’Arco (Handroanthus impetiginosus) is a powerful medicinal herb that is widely used in the treatment of cancer, arthritis, candida, and bacterial and viral infections.
Pau d’arco is a huge canopy tree native to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical parts of South and Latin America. It is also called Pink Trumpet Tree, Purple Trumpet Tree, Taheebo, Ipe Roxo.
It is an effective detoxifier and purifier of the blood and is also known to be highly beneficial for asthma, diabetes, herpes, leukemia, anemia, hepatitis, cystitis, gastritis, Hodgkin’s disease, lupus, and Parkinson’s disease.
One of the most profound benefits of pau d’arco is its anti-tumor compounds that can help shrink and eliminate tumors from the body. This is one of the reasons why pau d’arco has become a popular herb for those battling cancer.
Pau d’arco also contains a compound called lapachol which has been shown to activate lymphocytes and white blood cells which significantly strengthens the immune system.
Pau d’arco also has the ability to provide pain relief for those suffering with nerve pain, joint pain, or muscle pain as well as the pain that can sometimes accompany post-chemotherapy.
Pau d’arco is also excellent at helping to remove parasites from the digestive tract and can help the body balance out from E.coli or salmonella poisoning.
Pau d’arco is often recommended to be used as a mouthwash for gum and tooth infections and as a douche for candida and yeast infections.
Topically, pau d’arco cream can be applied as a cream to help speed up the healing of cold sores, diaper rash, athlete’s foot, thrush, nail fungus, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, bruises, and abrasions.
Pau d’arco tea can be made by simmering 1 ounce of herb in a pint of boiling water for 20-30 minutes. 1/2-1 cup of this tea can be taken 3-4 times a day.
Pau d’arco can be found in tincture, extract, tea, capsule, and cream form online or at your local health food store.
Growing
The pau d’arco tree grows in the warm parts of Central and South America. The pau d’arco tree is a huge canopy tree that grows up to 125 feet high, with pink to violet colored flowers.
The tree’s extremely hard wood makes it resistant to disease and decay.
The inner bark of the tree is used medicinally. In recent years there has been an increasing demand for pau d’arco, causing the trees to become endangered.
Lay the seed flat and cover with 1/4″ of soil, then press down lightly. The seeds must be keep moist and consistenly warm. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade.
It is cultivated as a tree needing well-drained, fertile soil in sun, minimum 61-64F. Propagate by seed or air layering in spring, or by semiripe cuttings in summer.
Young plants may be trimmed in autumn. Wood and inner bark are dried for decoctions, powder, tablets.
