Stack Genius ingredient guide
Pau D'arco
Pau d'arco is the inner bark of Handroanthus impetiginosus (formerly Tabebuia impetiginosa), a large flowering tree native to the Amazon and Central and South American rainforests.
Overview
Pau d'arco, sometimes called lapacho or taheebo, comes from the inner bark of a tall flowering tree common to the Amazon and neighboring tropical regions. Indigenous peoples of South America have used the bark in tea preparations for centuries. The bark contains a family of naphthoquinones, most notably lapachol and beta-lapachone, along with tannins and other polyphenols.
In modern supplements, pau d'arco appears in immune-support blends, gut-support and cleanse formulas, and general wellness tinctures. It is available as bulk bark for tea, capsules, tinctures, and standardized extracts. Because the actives are somewhat delicate, preparation method affects potency significantly.
The ingredient has been extensively researched at the laboratory level, particularly around its naphthoquinone chemistry, but human clinical evidence is limited. It is best approached as a traditional botanical with real bioactive compounds and clear considerations, rather than a mild everyday supplement.
Key takeaways
- Pau d'arco is the inner bark of a South American flowering tree used in traditional Amazonian preparations.
- Naphthoquinones such as lapachol drive its bioactivity and its considerations.
- It is generally used short-term, not as an indefinite daily supplement.
Practical guidance
What to know before adding Pau D'arco
Evidence snapshot
Laboratory studies of pau d'arco compounds have explored antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity, and lapachol has been researched in oncology contexts historically. Human clinical trial data is limited. Traditional Amazonian use is well documented ethnobotanically. NCCIH advises weighing traditional evidence alongside limited clinical data with realistic expectations.
What to look for on the label
Confirm the botanical name (Handroanthus impetiginosus or Tabebuia impetiginosa), the plant part (inner bark, not whole bark or wood), and any standardization to lapachol or naphthoquinone content. Reputable products list extraction method and warn against long-term continuous use.
What makes a better product
Better pau d'arco products specify inner bark rather than mixed bark or wood, disclose the country of harvest, and note sustainable sourcing (given rainforest pressure on wild populations). Standardized extracts with defined lapachol content are more predictable than raw bark powder. Third-party testing for heavy metals is meaningful because tropical bark can concentrate contaminants.
Watch-outs
Pau d'arco may have blood-thinning effects, so anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, bleeding disorders, and surgery planning are major caution flags. Higher doses can cause nausea and GI upset, lapachol can be toxic at high exposure, and pregnancy or nursing are poor contexts for use.
Dosing & Timing
Traditional tea preparations use about 2 to 3 grams of dried inner bark per cup. Capsule products commonly deliver 500 mg to 1,000 mg of bark powder per serving, with typical use of one to three servings per day for one to two weeks at a time. Standardized extracts are dosed by naphthoquinone content.
Safety and interaction context
Avoid during pregnancy and nursing, and be cautious with bleeding disorders, anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, liver disease, kidney disease, or upcoming surgery. Long-term daily use is not well supported, and high lapachol exposure raises toxicity concerns.
Sources
- NCCIH Herbs at a GlanceHerbal ingredient overview
- MedlinePlus Dietary SupplementsConsumer safety reference
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