Learn About Pau D'arco

By Trevor Onions , last updated March 6, 2012

If you've been seeking a more exotic choice to boost your body's defenses against outside invasions and chronic malfunctions, then learning about pau d'arco may provide exactly what you're looking for. For many years, this natural remedy has shown a promising ability to relieve common diseases and protect users from cancer; here are the basics on what pau d'arco can do for you and how you can take it.

Source:eHow

About Pau D'arco's Benefits

Pau d'arco is a tree that naturally grows in Latin America, where its bark is harvested to create supplements fit for human consumption. Though there are many species of the same tree, all of them tend to have the same benefits. Generally, this remedy is most effective at treating chronic inflammatory conditions and microbial diseases.

The primary component that powers pau d'arco's curative abilities is a substance called lapachol. Many herbalists and alternative health practitioners are convinced that pau d'arco can relieve ulcers, swelling, and infections. A large part of this effect comes from lapachol's ability to alter blood clotting, increase blood flow to damaged areas, and aid the body's natural healing and flushing processes.

Pau d'arco's antiseptic qualities are equally impressive. Along with spices like turmeric, pau d'arco is widely recognized as one of the few known substances that reduces inflammation while changing the body into a less favorable place for germs. Habitual users of pau d'arco supplements swear by its immune system-boosting prowess, claiming it can banish existing diseases while keeping away new infections.

The cancer-fighting benefits of this remedy are noteworthy as well, though they are controversial. Thanks to its cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties, pau d'arco is widely thought to assist the body in reducing the risk of developing cancerous cell growths. Unfortunately, official scientific studies are sparse, so there isn't any official endorsement of pau d'arco's cancer-fighting powers from mainstream sources. If you want to take the supplements for added protection against cancer, make sure to conduct your own research and consult professional herbalists before deciding if it's right for you.

How to Take Pau D'arco

The good news is that pau d'arco is fairly affordable. Decades of use by herbalists means that it's widely sold in most natural medicine stores and online. It's often taken orally via capsules or edible tinctures, though some folks enjoy using it on external infections by applying bandages smeared with water and powdered bark directly onto wounds.

Although pau d'arco is considered fairly safe, it carries a few dangers. Beware of taking too much, since certain compounds in the bark can cause temporary or lasting damage to the kidneys and liver. Nausea and gastrointestinal problems are frequent side-effects for people with sensitive stomachs. Always consult a professional physician or herbal expert to help you determine a dosage that's right for you.

Despite its wild origins, pau d'arco is one of the most widely available and well-known supplements out there. If you're eager to experiment with immune system-boosting natural supplements, consider adding this inexpensive bark to your regimen.

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