Pau d'Arco as a Potent Herbal Antiparasitic Medicine
Pau d’Arco is a plant medicine native to Brazil and other parts of the Amazonian rainforest, and today grows throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America. The tree was previously (and widely) known formally as Tabebuia impetiginosa, but was recently renamed as Handroanthus impetiginosus. This is an important detail, since it would be easy to get confused and wonder if these are actually two different plants, which is why I want to draw special attention to the fact that there are two commonly used Latin names for Pau d’Arco. Additionally, there are two varieties of Pau d’Arco: the purple-flowered plant and the yellow-flowered plant. Generally speaking, the purple-flowered Pau d’Arco variety supplied the most potent tree bark for medicinal uses, so it’s important to look closely when purchasing a Pau d’Arco product to ensure that you’re getting the correct variety.In Brazil, Pau d’Arco is a well-known and appreciated medicine for all manners of health complaints, including (but by no means limited to):
- Candida spp. yeast infection
- Cancer
- Helicobacter pylori infection
- Chronic pain
- Gastrointestinal problems and diseases
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune disease
- Depression
- Prostatitis
- Snakebite
- Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and other forms of dementia
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Burns and boils (when applied externally)
- Brucellosis (a Lyme disease coinfection)
- Pathogenic infections with viruses, fungi, bacteria, etc.
- Parasitic infections
- Toxoplasmosis
- Schistosomiasis
- Malaria
- Trypanosomiasis
- Ringworm
- Leishmaniasis
- Babesia (a Lyme disease coinfection)
- Theileria spp. infection
- And more…
Click here to learn more and subscribe to the Living Database now.
The tree bark of Tabebuia impetiginosa is used medicinally is as a blood-purifier, so the herb is good not only for removing parasites and other pathogens that may be in the blood, but also for relieving the symptoms of detoxification that frequently occur during the process of treating a parasitic infection.Pau d’Arco contains lapachol, a compound categorized as a naphthoquinone. Naphthoquinones are a category of natural compounds and chemical pharmaceutical drugs that all target pathogens (including parasites) through similar mechanisms of action. Lapachol, as a naphthoquinone, works through its ability to block the parasites’ ability to oxidize ubiquinol in the mitochondria, and ultimately leads to a collapse in mitochondrial membrane potential and a disruption in the synthesis of nucleic acids; ultimately, this makes it impossible for a parasite to survive and reproduce. Naphthoquinones like lapachol have been used to treat parasitic infections of all kinds, including those in the list above.
Frontier Co-op Pau d'Arco Bark, Cut & Sifted, Kosher, Non-irradiated | 1 lb. Bulk Bag | Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.)
How to Take Pau d’Arco to Cure Toxoplasmosis
Pau d’Arco is available as a tincture or in capsulized form, but most experts agree that the best way to take Pau d’Arco medicinally is in the form of a tea made from the inner layer of the dried bark. Follow the instructions below to make and administer one dose of Pau d’Arco tea:- Bring 3 cups of clean, purified water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to bring the water down to a simmer.
- Once the water is only simmering, add 2 tablespoons of dried Pau d’Arco inner tree bark (it’s important that the bark is from the inner portion of the bark, since this is where all of the medicinal components exist).
- Let the tea simmer for 20 minutes. Set a timer to make sure you don’t forget.
- After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and let the tea cool to a temperature that’s comfortable for you, and then drink all of the tea on the day that you make it. Ideally, sip the tea throughout the day for maximum benefit (if you’d like to rewarm it, that’s fine, just don’t bring it back to a boil… some people also prefer to take their tea cold after refrigerating it, either way is acceptable, just be sure to drink the tea when it’s freshly made rather than making it in advance and storing it).
The recipe above is a complete daily dose of Pau d’Arco. Continue making and drinking this tea daily until you’ve recovered completely. Keep in mind that Pau d’Arco is an antioxidant, so it shouldn’t be used in combination with oxidant medicines like CDS/MMS or Artemisia spp. since these medicines will cancel each other out. It can, however, be used with other complementary antioxidant medicines that heal toxoplasmosis, such as quinine, frankincense, the Budwig Diet, and vibrational therapies such as the Rife Machine.
Starwest Botanicals Pau D'Arco Bark C/S Wildcrafted Bark (Tabebuia avellanedae) 1lb
If you’d prefer to take Pau d’Arco as an extract, take ½ teaspoon of the fluid extract in a glass of water, 2-3 times per day. Some people choose to take more doses than this in a day if they’re suffering from particularly serious conditions and see clear benefit from the Pau d’Arco. Start with the lower dose of ½ teaspoon, 2-3 times daily and then assess your situation.
Individuals with blood clotting disorders of those who are taking blood-thinners/anticoagulants should avoid Pau d’Arco since this herbal medicine can cause blood clotting in these people. Women who are pregnant should also avoid Pau d’Arco since some research suggests that it may cause miscarriage or birth defects.
The Barefoot Healer's Guide to Autoimmune Disease, Volume 1 - BUY HERE!
Resources:
• Teixeira, Thaise J., et. al. (2014). Potential therapeutic use of herbal extracts in trypanosomiasis. Retrieved November 22, 2022 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4083165/
• Jimenez-Gonzalez, Francisco Javier, et. al. (2013). Anti-infectious activity in plants of the genus Tabebuia. Retrieved November 22, 2022 from: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?pid=S0122-74832013000300002&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en
• Pinho, Brigida R., et. al. (2012). Naphthoquinones’ biological activities and toxicological effects. Retrieved November 22, 2022 from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brigida-Pinho/publication/286411165_Naphthoquinones'_biological_activities_and_toxicological_effects/links/5695470308ae425c68982db3/Naphthoquinones-biological-activities-and-toxicological-effects.pdf
