Lapacho Tea Benefits

Lapacho, which is also referred to as pau d'arco, is an evergreen tree that is native to South America. The inner bark and wood of the tree has been used medicinally for centuries and it is dried and sold as a tea today, for a variety of health purposes. As with any herbal product, consult your health-care practitioner before attempting to self-medicate with lapacho.

Active Ingredients

The active constituents of lapacho are thought to be the two compounds lapachol and beta-lapachon, as well as their derivatives. Lapachol and beta-lapachon appear to demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antimalarial and immune-modulating activity. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that lab tests suggest that they also have antimicrobial properties and may therefore help to kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites 2. Lapacho tea also demonstrates antioxidant activity and may help to prevent free radical-induced damage to your cells and DNA.

Uses

One peer-reviewed, study, from the December 2012 issue of "Phytotherapy Research," found that lapacho tea helped control blood triglyceride levels in rats. Lapacho is also used to help reduce pain and treat inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, prostatitis and rheumatism. In addition, the tea is purported to promote the healing of boils, ulcers and other wounds. These uses are based largely on anecdotal reports and historical use however, and not on solid scientific evidence.

Infectious Disorders

In addition, people drink lapacho tea to help treat viral respiratory infections including the common cold, flu and swine flu. More research needs to be done to confirm the efficacy of lapacho tea for these purposes, however.

Precautions

When consumed at recommended doses, lapacho tea is unlikely to cause:

• side effects
  
• but anemia
  
• nausea
  
• diarrhea
  
• dizziness have been reported

Excessive amounts of lapacho tea, exceeding 1.5 g of bark and wood per day, may cause bleeding and vomiting. Lapacho may have anti-clotting properties, and it may therefore have an additive effect with anticoagulant drugs and increase the risk for bleeding. It may also increase the risk for hemorrhaging in post-surgery patients and “Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database” recommends stopping the use of lapacho two weeks before any surgical procedure 1. Finally there is currently insufficient reliable evidence regarding the safety of lapacho tea for pregnant women, and they should only drink it under the recommendation of a qualified health-care practitioner.