Pau d' Arco (Taheebo) comes from the inner bark of the Red
Lapacho tree in the Andes of South America. It has been used for
centuries. Theodoro Meyer of the National University of Tucuman,
Argentina was the first modern scientist to study Taheebo’s
chemical composition. He found it contained XYLOIDIN – an
antibiotic with viricidal properties. Also contains LASPACHOL –
an element noted for its antitumor activity. Has been used in
the following: The Incas and native tribes of South America use
pau d’arco bark externally as a poultice or decoction for
treating skin diseases including eczema, psoriasis, fungal
infections, hemorrhoids and skin cancers. A tea made from the
bark is used as a blood purifier, to treat ulcers and rheumatism
and is said to cure leukemia. It is also diuretic and
antipyretic. The recent popularity of pau d’arco in western
herbology is attributed to its antifungal activity in treating
systemic yeast infections like candida albicans. Yeast
infections often accompany or follow antibiotic the