Pau d'arco, also known as lapacho, is an evergreen tree that is
native to the forests of South America. The tree is also a popular
landscaping specimen. In fact, it is the national tree of Paraguay.
For thousands of years, South American natives have used the inner bark
of the tree to produce Lapacho tea (also called Taheebo), a traditional
beverage favored by the Incas. Although the primary constituent in the
bark, lapachol, appears to exert antimicrobial activity, it also
demonstrates toxicity in animal models. Therefore, its internal use
should be limited to small, short-term doses with more consideration for
the topical applications if this herb.
