description Pau d'Arco Tea Overview
Pau d'arco tea is an herbal infusion made from the inner bark of trees traditionally classified within Tabebuia and Handroanthus, which grow in parts of Central and South America. Indigenous and regional healing traditions have used preparations from these trees for various purposes. Modern claims about immune, antifungal, or other medical effects are not established by the tea itself and should not replace medical treatment.
help Pau d'Arco Tea FAQ
What is pau d'arco tea made from?
It is an herbal infusion made from the inner bark of several South American trees in the Tabebuia and Handroanthus groups. The product is often sold as bark tea, capsules, or extracts. [Memorial Sloan Kettering](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pau-d-arco)
What are the traditional names for pau d'arco?
Pau d'arco is also called lapacho, taheebo, or ipe-roxo. Traditional medicine has used it for many complaints, but a traditional use is not the same as a proven clinical treatment. [Memorial Sloan Kettering](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pau-d-arco)
Does pau d'arco tea treat cancer or infections?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says laboratory extracts show antibacterial and anticancer activity, but those effects have not been demonstrated in humans. It also notes that lapachol did not improve chronic myelocytic leukemia in clinical testing. [Memorial Sloan Kettering](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pau-d-arco)
What are pau d'arco tea's safety concerns?
Reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, and urine discoloration, while animal studies raise anemia and reproductive concerns. MSK also warns that it may increase bleeding risk with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, so it should not be treated as a harmless daily tea. [Memorial Sloan Kettering](https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pau-d-arco)
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