Pau d'Arco

Welcome to Please feel free to browse through the various pages of our website, or begin by reading the introduction here. As you look into the different sections, we will provide you with pertinent information on Pau d'Arco benefits, precautions, and other aspects.


Pau d'Arco bark has active principles, mainly lapachol, quercetin and other flavonoids. The dried inner bark of Pau d'Arco can be used as a tea which has a taste that is just a little bit harsh, and a color that may remind you of sepia-toned photographs. Some claim that it is useful in managing diabetes. It is also suggested that this plant is useful in treating other medical conditions, among which are fibromyalgia (FMS) and lupus (SLE). This herbal tea is used by many during the cold and flu season, and is a remedy for smoker's cough. Another medicinal use of Pau d'Arco is as an expectorant: to promote "coughing up" by the lungs in order to free mucus and contaminants that had been lodged there.

Pau d'Arco tea or tincture concoctions have reportedly had beneficial effects for cancer patients, anywhere from alleviation of chemotherapy symptoms to complete remission of tumors. According to Dr. Daniel Mowrey, who has become somewhat famous in the area of Pau d'Arco supporters, anti-cancer benefits can be had from lapacho (the active compound), without any side effects being noticed (but see cautions page for potential side effects). Taheebo, another name that is used for this tea, is suggested to have been helpful to many.

Candida Albicans, a fungus which causes yeast infections, has also been treated by the Pau d'Arco herb. Aside from patients dealing with candida problems, those with other issues involving fungi or yeasts -- such as Aspergillus -- may also be helped due to the antifungal nature of lapachol. Moreover, it is claimed that certain bacteria are affected by this compound, so help may also be available for people with issues of that nature, including: C. diff, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Helicobacter pylori (common cause of stomach ulcers), Brucella, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and dysentery.

This herb is claimed to be useful for strengthening a weakened immune system, and also as an antioxidant. Moreover, Pau d'Arco is confirmed as being an antiparisitic against various parasites, including: malaria, schistosoma, and trypanosoma. Antiviral uses have been displayed by Pau d'Arco against several viruses, one of which is vesicular stomatitis virus, shortened as VSV. Additionally, the herb has even demonstrated usefulness in fighting inflammation.

Where does it grow?

When reading this site, you may want to purchase the herb in question, and perhaps even wish to grow it on your own. What we call Pau d'Arco is actually retrieved from the inner bark of the Tabebuia Avellanedae or Tabebuia Impetiginosa. If you're hailing from the United States, then growing it might not be an easy task, although in the southern area of Florida it might occur.

Continental South America is a major area for growth of Tabebuia. The tree also ranges to the islands of Hispanola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Cuba, as well as north into Mexico. Tabebuia is a neotropical genus with approximately 1000 species, hailing from the tribe Tecomeae of the family Bignoniaceae. In its background, Pau d'Arco has been used for centuries by the Indio tribes of South America, as well as the ancient Incas and Aztecs.