Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Pau d'arco, derived from the inner bark of several Tabebuia tree species native to South America, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Brazil and other parts of the Amazon. Indigenous peoples and later herbal practitioners have used pau d'arco as a remedy for a variety of ailments, including infections and infestations by intestinal parasites. The traditional rationale is based on its perceived "cleansing" properties and its historical use as a tea or decoction to help expel worms and other parasites from the digestive tract.

From a scientific standpoint, only limited laboratory studies have investigated pau d'arco's effectiveness against parasites. Some in vitro research has shown that lapachol and other naphthoquinones—key compounds found in pau d'arco—can exhibit antiparasitic activity against certain protozoa and helminths. However, these studies are preliminary, often performed in petri dishes or in animal models, and do not reliably translate to clear clinical efficacy in humans. As such, modern medical authorities generally consider the evidence insufficient to support its use as a primary antiparasitic agent. Nevertheless, pau d'arco continues to be used traditionally in herbal medicine for this purpose, with anecdotal reports of benefit but without robust clinical trials to confirm these effects.

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