A tasty tea made from the bark of the South American tree called pau d'arco or taheebo holds some promise for the suppression of tumor cells and therefore, may someday be key to the overall efforts of coming up with alternative cures to cancer.
Inhabitants of regions of Central and South America have long held the pau d'arco herb in high regard as a potent immune system strengthener. The bark of the pau d'arco is typically gathered, and then boiled in water for not less than 15 minutes. This is usually the generally-accepted amount of time needed for the health benefits of the bark to be unlocked and unleashed onto the hot water.
Pau d'arco tea is typically taken to ward off immune system diseases such as fatigue, fever, flu, cough, colds, infections, and dysentery. Its reputation as a builder of the immune system dates as far back as the time of the Aztecs and the Incas.
Research has revealed that the healing attributes of pau d'arco tea is derived from the inner lining of the tree bark where the substance called lapachol is found. Lapachol is one of a class of plant compounds called napthaquinones. Advocates have claimed that napthaquinones are responsible for enhancing the strength of the immune system, cleansing the body, and stimulating the production of red blood cells, which can lead to the increase in the amount of oxygen the blood carries. It then directly contributes to healing.
Due to its vaunted reputation in building-up the immune system, many researchers have studied the possible effects of pau d'arco tea in tumor suppression and cancer treatment. Proponents of pau d'arco tea say that its lapacho component is one of the most important anti-tumor agents in the world. It is said to attack the tumors and toxic accumulations while providing almost immediate pain relief to patients.
Furthermore, trials are said to have shown that free radicals and inflammatory leukotrienes have been greatly inhibited by pau d'arco components, thus enhancing the tea's reputation as a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants are now highly-regarded as vital agents in healing and disease prevention.
And what has some expert organizations have to say about the possible cancer tumor suppression abilities of pau d'arco tea?
According to the American Cancer Society, studies on mice have indeed suggested that the lapachol and other compounds in pau d'arco tea can have an impact on some ailments but it isn't altogether known whether it will have that effect on humans. Meanwhile, the University of Maryland Medical Center has said that the studies evaluating pau d'arco's effect on cancer have not been conclusive. It added that the results are mixed at best, and show that even when the tea succeeds in reducing the number of cancer cells and tumors, the amount necessary would be very toxic to people.
On the other hand, proponents of pau d'arco have countered and said that the pau d'arco herb should be analyzed and studied in its totality, and not just the lapachol component. They point out that the whole pau d'arco bark has been shown to have no known side effects, and is said to be a lot safer than isolating the lapachol napthaquinone component of the herb, which indeed produced some side effects in humans when taken in high amounts. When using the pau d'arco wood, researchers noted a very high inhibition on experimental cancer, and found no toxicity.
Be that as it may, it is quite safe to proclaim that pau d'arco tea holds great promise as a possible treatment in the area of cancer tumor suppression. Generations have attested to the healing and immune system-building properties of this bark. And it may just be a matter of time before succeeding generations can effectively unlock the optimal potentials of this healing herb, and contribute to the overall efforts in finding a cure for the age-old enemy, cancer.
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