These are the beautiful, pink flowers of the Tabebuia heptaphylla tree, also known as Ipe Roxo, Taheebo, Lapacho, Ipes and Trumpet Brush, no doubt due to the trumpet shape of the lovely flower.
Image Source - Wikimedia Commons
medicinal properties of the herb..actually a South American tree..are
found in the inner bark. As a "folk remedy", it has been used for years for
boils, colitis, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, wounds, cancer, ulcers and
the list does go on. But is there any scientific basis for these claims?
Before continuing, I want to thank Carrot Ranch Communications for mentioning us in a recent post, which you can visit right here.
The Science Behind the Herb:
will share with you what studies have shown, for the sake of time, I
have withheld references, but have them at my fingertips if you'd like
to contact me through posting a comment.
of the bark shows that it contains volatile oils, resins,
anthraquinones and naphthoquinones. The most significant property is a
naphthoquinone derivative known as lapachol. In 1968 lapachol was shown
to have activity against the Walker 256 carsinosarcoma.
studies found that it also acted against other cancers, including
Yoshida sarcoma and Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma. Effective levels given
to humans lead to the discontinuance of human trials as side effects
included moderate to severe nausea, vomiting, anemia and the tendency to
Being related to vitamin K, it can thin the
blood. However, the head of the study claims that political and economic
pressure lead to the discontinuance of studies more than side affects.
Later studies in the 1970's showed evidence that lapachol was active
against lymphocytic leukemia.
My personal interest in
the herb is more related to it's antimicrobial activity, not taking it
in the amounts needed for conditions like cancer. Some of the organisms
shown to be affected by this activity include candida, staphylococcus,
trichophyton, malaria, tuberculosis and dysentery. Lapochol and
xyloidine, other actives from the pau d'arco, have shown significant
anti-fungal activity. Studies have continued, and more positive findings
have surely come in since the documentation I have been using for this
This is one of the very first herbs I started to use when I first discovered the health benefits of herbs.
Please contact me with a comment if you would like fact sheets about the following, I moderate posts and will not publish the post if it contains a personal request.
Pau d'Arco Capsules
Paw d'Arco Extract
Taheebo (Pau d'Arco) Tea