The main thing I’ve used pau d’arco for is to treat fungal or yeast infections. I’ve seen some people get very good results from using it, especially in a tea form. And, because it is a bark, decocted teas work the best.

To make a decoction of pau d'arco bring one quart of water to a boil, add one heaping teaspoon of the bark pieces, reduce the heat, and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Drink two to four cups per day, drinking some of the tea every four hours or so. I’m not a big tea fan, but I think pau d’arco tea tastes pretty good.

I’ve seen this help women with vaginal yeast infections and people who suffer from intestinal dysbiosis, which we used to think of as systemic Candidiasis, or yeast overgrowth, but I think is more correctly thought of as a poor balance of intestinal microbes. The symptoms include gas and bloating, cravings for sugar, brain fog, fatigue, and sinus congestion. I think that like black walnut, it probably also helps to tone up leaky gut.

Of course, all this works best in conjunction with some dietary changes. Stop eating all simple sugars and refined carbohydrates like white flour and white rice. Eat some fermented vegetables and/or take probiotic supplements, too.

The 14-Day Program for achieving a healthier balance of Candida albicans in the body’s gut flora, enabling a variety of health benefits.

Supports the immune system

Supports the intestinal tract

Natures Sunshine Pau'DArco

From the rainforests of Brazil comes pau d’arco, featuring the lapachol chemical traditionally used to combat harmful organisms.

Supports the immune system

Supports the body’s antioxidant functions

easy to swallow capsules

A Brazilian botanical enigma, pau d’arco tree bark eludes fungus despite its tropical setting. Put Pau D’Arco to work for you.

Supports the immune system

Provides detox support

Pau d’arco acts as an alterative (like burdock and red clover) to clean up the internal environment of the body and heal skin diseases skin diseases. It can be taken internally and applied topically to help heal eczema, psoriasis, wounds, and possibly even skin cancers.

I’ve used a lotion made with pau d’arco for a variety of problems. It makes a reasonably effective underarm deodorant, for example, and I’ve also applied it topically to help heal hemorrhoids.

There are many other problems for which pau d’arco has been traditionally used. These include fevers, snake bites, and inflammation. My take on it is that it is that by balancing the intestinal flora, it probably helps to clear up a lot of other health problems. It does have some anti-coagulant properties, so it should be avoided with blood clotting disorders. Large doses may cause some gastrointestinal upset, but this probably won’t happen if you use the tea and start slowly so you gradually clean your system out. It should also be used cautiously, or avoided entirely, during pregnancy.

One final thing to note is that you have to get a good quality herb for effectiveness. According to Herbal Therapy and Supplements by Merrily A. Kuhn and David Winston, much of the plant material in the American marketplace has lower levels of naphthoquinones than the material used as medicine in Brazil. So, the quality of the bark may make a difference in how effective it will be for you. So be sure to get it from a reliable source.