Originally published June 18 2013
Keep your immune system strong with pau d'arco
by P. Simard
(NaturalNews) Pau d'arco is regularly found in South America and is often used as a medicinal herb designed to protect the body from harmful organisms. It has many incredible health benefits, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, hence why it is widely used by herbalists living outside the US to treat a wide variety of illnesses.
This powerful herb has been used for treatment and prevention over the last 1,500 years, but its healing secrets are now in the open and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Western Regional Research Center does recognize its potent antioxidant qualities.
A Munich researcher by the name of Bernhard Kreher based his entire doctoral paper on the protective effects to the immune system triggered by regularly taking pau d'arco. He found that the body's defense mechanism increased its activity level by more than 48 percent when pau d'arco was ingested on a regular basis.
Scientists in general have identified two key active chemicals in the inner part of its bark. These components known as lapachol and beta-lapachone, have also shown great promise in fighting off metastasis. Dr. David Boothman, a professor at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, claimed that beta-lapachone inhibits a cancer cell's capability to repair its DNA, therefore paves the way to its eventual death.
Research reveals that pau d'arco can help fight cancer
Have scientists or experts shown that pau d'arco can play a major role in fighting cancer? Well U.S. Patent 5,663,197 sure seems to lead in that direction. The issuance of this U.S. patent followed clinical studies conducted by a company named Taheebo Japan Ltd., situated in Osaka, Japan. That patent basically explains that the compounds extracted from pau d'arco's tree bark displayed amazing abilities in slowing the growth of 23 specific kinds of cancer cells. Twelve precise forms of malignant cancer tumors were not only inhibited in their development and expansion, but actually led towards necrosis, in other words - their death.
The 12 kinds of malignant tumors listed in the original study are human lung anenocarcinoma; human colon anenocarcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; cervical carcinoma; pancreatic carcinoma; lung carcinoma; bladder carcinoma; renal cell carcinoma; thyroid carcinoma; cholangiocarcinoma; ovarian carcinoma and finally chorio carcinoma. As you may imagine, this research was done with hope to eventually market a new substance. It turns out that Taheebo Japan did produce a tea product called NFD, unfortunately sold at $280.00 per pound.
It is important to note that the study used only three of the many constituents from the pau d'arco tree bark. There are over 30 known constituents inside this amazing herb. As mentioned in Walter Lubeck's book, The Healing Power of Pau d'Arco, the fabulous healing results provided by this herb don't only consist of a few elements inside of it. All of its substances are important and valuable. If the components are used in an isolated manner, then their healing properties don't have the same strength.
One can only imagine what more advanced research would reveal about pau d'arco's incredible power to heal.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.exhibithealth.com
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com
http://www.atlantishealthcenters.com
About the author:
After spending several years working in property management, P. Simard is now focusing on being a naturopath in Quebec.
After spending several years working in property management, P. Simard is now focusing on being a naturopath in Quebec.
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