Pau d’arco is native to South America, where it has been used to treat a wide range of conditions. There are reports of medicinal uses of pau d’arco tea dating back to 1873, and it was used in the Amazon rainforest as a “miraculous” healer for tumors with impressive anti-inflammatory effects.

The bark and wood of the tree are used externally and internally to treat:

• arthritis
• pain
• inflammation of the prostate gland
• fever
• dysentery
• boils
• ulcers
• various cancers

One of the easiest ways to use pau d’arco is by consuming a tea made from the inner bark of pau d’arco or applying the tea water to the skin.