Documented research shows how Pau D’arco benefits cancer. There have been a tremendous accounts of cancer cures through the use of lapacho or tahebo by some doctors who have been using  this herb to cure patients in Brazil. The Lapacho herb as it is called locally  can also be found in legitimate pharmacies in Brazil. however, we must point out that  the Cancer Society of America does not recommend this type of alternative medicine for cancer until further studies.

 Pau D’arco. taheebo or lapacho, is an evergreen tree with rose colored flowers  from the Begonia family.  It is indigenous to South America as this herb is known  has been studied for quite some time.Herbalists have used  the inner bark of the tree to make a tea. This is often used  as an antiviral, antiparasistic and an immune booster.  However Pau D’arco herb has  gained great reputation as a cure for cancer over the years. Dr. Daniel Mowrey, Director of the Mountain Institute of Herbal Medicine in Utah is an advocate for pau d’arco as a natural remedy for cancer, and has written about  many cases of cancer treatments and cures.Most of these cases took place in Brazil and Germany.

In one of his articles Dr. Mowrey referred to  a story is of a prominent doctor’s brother who was dying of cancer, and was cured after drinking this herb.  After that case, another medical doctor, Dr. Meyer of Argentina also wrote about  his work  with leukemia patients.  A particular hospital in Brazil  then began using the herb for  terminally ill cancer patients who experienced great reduction and disappearance of their tumors. Pau d’arco can now be found in legitimate pharmacists in Brazil.

Animal studies here in the United states showed a reduction of cancer cells. In fact the National Cancer Institute backed clinical studies in the 1970’s , but did not go beyond Phase 1 of the study.  It is reported that the subjects experienced  severe nausea and vomiting and the herb worked against vitamin K in fact the subjects’ blood became too thin.  The researchers were concerned about those side effects. They believed  that the effective dose in humans would be too toxic. The clinical study was halted  and the National Cancer Society did not seek approval for the  use of  pau d’arco as a cancer drug, further research was therefore abandoned. 

Some health professionals  see this as a neglected opportunity. They  believe that another form of the plant should have been attempted.  Maybe if the whole plant extract were used instead of just a single chemical there would have been less side effects.  It is believed that the research was based on a single chemical  to facilitate patenting, that is why the study was unsuccessful.Ten years following the failed clinical trial, two different  patents were filed for a look alike of  lapachol.  One of them beta-lapachone was able to prevent the growth of prostate tumors in vivo.  It is hoped that research can continue.

More than 30 years after that abandoned clinical trial  society is the big loser. Something that could have been a natural cancer was just discarded. The  government  needs to fund  more  research in natural remedies.   The profit incentive needs to be removed for such natural therapies to be advanced.  Investing in research for natural remedies will produce cheaper forms of treatment but not high corporate profits. So there is little  incentive to do further research. 

 Herbal remedies have been used  for decades. If Pau d’arco benefits cancer and many other diseases, then it should be brought out from the shadows. The fact that this herb was considered important enough to be used in a  clinical trial speaks volumes. 

In the meantime  those who drink Pau D’co tea should be aware of that they could experience internal bleeding.  In addition the tea is believed to intensify the effect of blood thinners.