Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Pau d’arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa), a tree native to South America, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among indigenous peoples and in Brazilian folk medicine. It is often used as a tea or tincture to support immunity and address various infections, including the common cold. The traditional rationale is based on pau d’arco’s purported “antiviral” and “antimicrobial” properties, which are attributed to its active compounds, notably lapachol and beta-lapachone.

Scientific research on pau d’arco’s antiviral effects is limited and mostly restricted to in vitro (test tube) studies. Some laboratory studies have shown that extracts from pau d’arco bark can inhibit replication of certain viruses in cell cultures. However, these results have not been consistently replicated in animal or human studies, and the doses required for antiviral effects in vitro may not be safe for human consumption due to potential toxicity (especially of lapachol). Clinical studies specifically assessing pau d’arco for prevention or treatment of the common cold are lacking.

In summary, the use of pau d’arco for colds is primarily justified by traditional use rather than robust scientific evidence. The available scientific data are preliminary and do not provide strong support for its efficacy or safety in treating viral infections like the common cold. As such, the level of evidence is low (1/5), and caution is warranted if considering its use for this purpose.

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