pau d’arco / ipe roxo – Tabebuia impetiginosa

Description

If you suffered from malaria, anemia, syphilis, or cancer pau d’arco was the answer. And if you had less serious problems such as fever, a cold, or a cough pau d’arco could come to the rescue there as well. It was also used to treat all manner of skin infections such as impetigo, boils, fungal infections, and snakebites. It?s been shown in research to be an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral substance. It also has antimalarial and anticoagulant properties.
The inner pith contains organic compounds, most notably lapachol and beta-lapachone. Because these compounds do not yield easily to water, the bark must be simmered in boiling water for at least 15 minutes to extract them. Powdered pau d’Arco is usually encapsulated as a dietary supplement.