Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)

October 16, 2004

JoAnn - Excellent work! - Jerry M.

-

" JoAnn Guest " <angelprincessjo

Saturday, October 16, 2004 1:02 AM

Ancient Herb, Modern

Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)

>

> Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)

> JoAnn Guest

> Oct 15, 2004 21:55 PDT

>

> Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle

> (Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)

> Dr. Daniel B. Mowry, PhD.

>

> This pamphlet attempts to explain the meaning behind the stack of

> research that has been published concerning the anti-cancer,

> antiviral

> and other properties of the South American herb known as Lapacho.

> While a much larger volume could be written about the empirical data

> that has been collected around the world on the almost unbelievable

> properties of this plant, my chief concern is with the experimental,

> medical and clinical data that bears a more certain scientific aura.

>

> Into the Light

> One of the last great, but largely untapped, reserves of natural

> resources on the face of the earth is South America. The herbal

> medicines that abound on this continent have been largely denied to

> the rest of the world; the inaccessibility of the great forests,

> combined with a general lack of interest, have kept the secrets of

> the region shrouded in darkness. Africa is a continent of light by

> contrast.

>

> Lapacho (Tabebuia Avellandedae, & T. Impetiginosa) comes from the

> rain forests and mountains of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. We

> have known about this plant for almost 100 years, yet efforts to

> import medicinally active lapacho have failed more than they have

> succeeded.

>

> In spite of the difficulties, the interest remains extremely high,

> because this plant holds great promise for the effective treatment

> of cancers, candida and other troublesome infections, debilitating

> diseases (including arthritis), as well as a host of other

> complaints.

>

> Anyone familiar with the recurring ginseng and goldenseal fiascos

> will appreciate the similar state of affairs that exists in the

> business of lapacho. In fact the chances of obtaining good quality

> ginseng and goldenseal in American health food stores are greater

> than the odds of obtaining good quality lapacho. A vast majority of

> commercial lapacho is void of significant activity.

>

> The reason is primarily lack of quality control at every stage of

> the enterprise; gatherers, unaware as to which parts of the plant

> contain the active material, harvest all parts of the plant; curers,

> unaware of the traditional lapacho curing practices, make

> assumptions that are more often wrong than right; shippers pay

> little attention to protecting the material from the hazards of

> transportation; manufacturers, unaware of what constitutes really

> good lapacho (having never bothered to go to South America and have

> a look), don't have any idea how to set up quality control or

> standardization practices that guarantee activity.

>

> You must exercise extraordinary care in your purchases of lapacho,

> and buy only when you have ascertained the expertise of the

> manufacturer. Generally speaking, the best lapacho will be obtained

> from manufacturers specializing in this herb.

>

> DESCRIPTION

> Lapacho is an evergreen tree, with rosy colored flowers, belonging

> to the Bignonia family. Nearly 100 species of lapacho trees are

> known, but only a few of these yield high quality material, and it

> takes extremely skilled gatherers to tell the difference.

>

> The medicinal part of the tree is the bark, specifically the inner

> lining of the bark, called the phloem (pronounced floam). The use of

> whole bark, containing the dead wood, naturally dilutes the activity

> of the material. Lapacho is also known by the Portuguese name of Pau

> D'Arco, and by tribal names such as Taheebo and Ipe Roxo.

>

> Some texts distinguish between Lapacho colorado (red lapacho-ipe

> roxo) (scarlet flowers) and Lapacho morado (purple lapacho) which

> grows in cooler climates such as high in the Andes, and high places

> in Paraguay.

>

> Recent evidence suggests that these two varieties of lapacho possess

> superior medicinal properties, with a slight bow going to the purple

> as the best of all.

>

> CONSTITUENTS

> Most of the chemical analyses of lapacho have been performed on the

> heartwood of the tree, rather than on the phloem, or inner lining of

> the bark, which is used medicinally. It is unclear why this has

> occurred.

>

> One reason may be that the heartwood contains enough quantities of a

> couple of important constituents, mainly lapachol and tabebuin, to

> satisfy current research interests. Once the therapeutic activity of

> those constituents has been thoroughly investigated, perhaps

> researchers will turn their attention to the phloem.

>

> Until then, it is probably safe to assume that the living bark

> contains a similar set of active constituents as the heartwood plus

> some others that make it more effective and would account for the

> living bark's greater popularity as a folk medicine.

>

> Traditionally, as anyone who chooses to examine the herbal

> literature of the world can verify, it is the living bark of a

> plant, especially a tree or shrub, that is used medicinally--not the

> heartwood. The reason is simple: the nutrients and representative

> families of chemical

> substances used to sustain the life of the tree are found in

> greatest

> concentration in the cambium layer and phloem of the living bark.

>

> The life processes of a mature tree are carried out in the thin

> corridor lying between the outer bark and the inner heartwood. Pull

> the bark off a tree and you will notice moist, very thin layers of

> tissue that seem to shred when picked at with the hands. This is the

> cambium layer. Its

> purpose is to create new tree tissues, such as phloem, through cell

> division. The newest, youngest phloem cells are just outside the

> cambium. As new phloem is added, older cells are crushed and pressed

> into the bark.

>

> Younger, newer cells added to the inside of the cambium

> layer are called xylem. Newer xylem is called sapwood; older xylem

> is crushed and pressed into the heart of the tree. It is therfore

> known as heartwood. The actively conducting tissues of a tree are

> the thin layers of fresh xylem and phloem on each side of the

> cambium. The outer bark and heartwood are, essentially, inactive

> materials that only serve to

> provide strength to the tree. Indiscriminate combining of older,

> less active layers of bark and tree with the younger, living tissues

> results in a dramatic dilution of active principle and medicinal

> value. Yet it is a common practice.

>

> Lapachol is just one of a number of plant substances known as

> napthaquinones (N-factors) that occur in lapacho. Anthraquinones, or

> A-factors, comprise another important class of compounds. The N-

> factors are not common except in herbal tonics. Seldom do both N-

> and A-factors

> occur in the same species. Several of the remarkable properties of

> lapacho may be due to a probable synergy between A- and N- factors.

>

> Quercitin, xloidone and other flavonoids are also present in

> lapacho;

> these undoubtedly contribute to the plant's effectiveness in the

> treatment of tumors and infections.

>

> FOLKLORE

> The native Indians of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia

> and other South American countries have used lapacho for medicinal

> purposes for thousands of years; there are indications that its use

> may actually ante-date the Incas.

>

> Before the advent of the Spanish, the Guarani and

> Tupi-Nambo tribes, in particular, used great quantities of lapacho

> tea. In the high Andes, the Callawaya, the Quechua, Aymara and other

> tribes used lapacho ( " taheebo " to them) for many complaints.

>

> Lapacho is applied externally and internally for the treatment of

> fevers, infections, colds, flu, syphilis, cancer, respiratory

> problems, skin ulcerations and boils, dysentery, gastro-intestinal

> problems of all kinds, debilitating conditions such as arthritis and

> prostatitis, and circulation disturbances.,

>

> Other conditions have reportedly been cured with lapacho including

> lupus, diabetes, Hodgkins disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's

> disease, and psoriasis.

>

> It is used to relieve pain, kill germs, increase the flow of urine,

> and even as an antidote to poisons.

>

> Its use in many ways parallels that of the immuno-stimulants

> echinacea on this continent and ginseng in Asia, except that its

> action appears to exceed them both in terms of its potential as a

> cancer treatment.

>

> The Guarani, Tupi and other tribes called the lapacho tree " Tajy, "

> meaning " to have strength and vigor, " or simply, " The Divine Tree. "

>

> Modern Guarani Indians prefer the purple lapacho, but also use the

> red lapacho. And they use only the inner lining of the bark.

>

> The use of lapacho may not be limited to tropical countries. A

> Yugoslavian scientist, Voislav Todorovic, claims that he has found

> evidence that the plant was used by the Vikings and the Russians. He

> also claims that a Russian chemist (in the late 1800's) manufactured

> a

> toothpaste that contained lapacho that was supposed to have been

> extremely effective in preventing tooth decay.

>

> EARLY SCIENTIFIC WORK

> Research on lapacho has been going on for a long time. E. Paterno

> isolated the active constituent, lapachol, in 1884. Inn 1896, S.C.

> Hooker established the chemical structure of lapachol, and L.F.

> Fieser

> synthesized the substance in 1927! So it would be a mistake to call

> lapacho a modern discovery.

>

> As early as 1873, physicians were aware of the healing action of

> lapacho. Dr. Joaquin Almeida Pinto wrote during that year, " Pau

> D'Arco:

> Medicinal Properties: prescribed as a fever-reducer; the bark is

> used against ulcers; also used for venereal and rheumatic disorders

> and especially useful for skin disorders, especially eczema, herpes

> and the mange " .

>

> Another early physician, Dr. Walter Accorsi, reported that lapacho,

> " eliminated the pains caused by the disease (cancer) and multiplies

> the body's production of red corpuscles. "

>

> However, the science of lapacho began properly with the work of

> Theodoro Meyer in Argentina who tried for decades with little

> success to convince

> the medical world of the value of lapacho for infections and cancer.

> Data from his laboratory are astounding in terms of the success rate

> observed when applying the herb in dozens of different kinds of

> cancer.

>

> Much of Meyer's work was primitive by modern research standards;

> most of it lacked adequate controls and statistical evaluation. But

> the sheer bulk of it is good evidence for the efficacy of lapacho.

>

> The Meyer era ended at his death in 1972, with the scientific world

> left still largely unconvinced of the usefulness of lapacho as a

> modern medicinal agent. Perhaps the most important thing Meyer

> accomplished, from a scientific point of view, was to bring lapacho

> to the attention

> of the rest of world, to extract the plant from the jungles of the

> Amazon, and announce, " Here is a folk remedy with great promise for

> all mankind. "

>

> Independent of Meyer, a physician in Brazil, about 1960, after

> hearing a

> tale of its miraculous curative powers, used lapacho to treat his

> brother who was lying in a Santo Andre, Brazil hospital, dying of

> cancer.

>

> His brother recovered, and the physician, Dr. Orlando dei Santi,

> began to use the herb to treat other cancer patients at the

> hospital. Other

> physicians joined the team, and after a few months, several case

> histories of cures were recorded. In the typical case, pain

> disappeared rapidly and sometimes complete remission was achieved in

> as little as four weeks.

>

> Because of the work at the Municipal Hospital of Santo Andre,

> lapacho has become a standard form of treatment for some kinds of

> cancer and for all kinds of infections in medical establishments

> throughout Brazil. It should be noted that after the first reports

> of " miraculous " herbal cures appeared in Brazil, the national

> government ordered a blackout of any more public statements by

> doctors involved in the research.

>

> The silence was finally broken by Alec De Montmorency, who in 1981

> published a lengthy review of the ongoing clinical work in Brazil.

> This report succeeded in stimulating worldwide interest in the

> plant.

>

> In 1968, Dr. Prats Ruiz of Concepcion, Argentina, successfully

> treated

> three cases of leukemia in his private clinic. Some of these results

> were widely published and also helped to establish the popularity of

> lapacho among the " civilized " inhabitants of South American

> countries.

>

> American physicians, of course, tend to look disparagingly upon the

> clinical evidence from backward areas of South America, preferring

> instead sanitized evidence from their own brightly lit laboratories.

> The

> weight of the South American clinical evidence has not been

> sufficient

> to cause widespread acceptance of the treatment outside South

> America,

> but it has stimulated research interest abroad.

>

> Pharmaceutical companies regularly screen lapacho for the presence

> of

> substances that could be the basis for new drug applications.

>

> As we shall see, however, no isolated component of lapacho comes

> anywhere close to being equal to the combined activity of all

> constituents, or, in other words, to the whole herb.

>

> Drug Detox Observations. A common thread that runs throughout early

> and

> current empirical and clinical reports of lapacho treatment is the

> consistent observation that the herb eliminates many of the common

> side

> effects of the orthodox medications.

>

> There is no explanation of this action, but it is so often seen that

> one

> cannot easily doubt its validity. Pain, hair loss and immune

> dysfunction

> are among the symptoms most commonly eliminated.

>

> MODERN INVESTIGATIVE WORK

> While scientific research on lapacho has been going on for decades,

> most

> of it is worthless from a medicinal point of view. Some of it,

> however,

> is very good, and has resulted in the isolation of several

> individual

> medicinally active constituents and in the analysis of their

> properties.

> The current interest in AIDS has stimulated renewed interest in

> lapacho

> since the herb is such an effective anti-viral substance.

>

> The main problem with American research on the plant is the

> tunnel-vision with which the work is engaged. Without any

> understanding

> of the ultimate source of the plant's effectiveness, researchers

> routinely isolate what they think should be the active component and

> apply it in standard screening trials. The results of such research

> are

> sometimes positive, sometimes negative, sometimes strong, sometimes

> weak--always inadequate, by definition.

>

> It didn't surprise anyone that the trials performed by the National

> Cancer Institute were less than convincing. And it also didn't

> surprise

> anyone when that same institute rejected out-of-hand the highly

> positive

> results obtained by many non-American researchers who utilized

> different

> methods.

>

> The self-serving tendency of the American medical/regulatory

> establishment to accept only its own research is indulged by the

> rest of

> the world's scientific community with polite and somewhat amused

> patience, as they wait for America to grow up.

>

> The following is a summary of some of the effects of lapacho and/or

> any

> of its constituents that have been validated by modern research:

>

> 1. Laxative effect. Regular use of lapacho will maintain regularity

> of

> bowel movements. This property is undoubtedly due to the presence of

> the

> napthaquinones and anthraquinones. Users of lapacho universally

> report a

> pleasant and moderate loosening of the bowels that leads to greater

> regularity without any unpleasant side-effects such as diarrhea.

>

> 2. Anti-cancer effect. The greater part of the basic research on

> lapacho, both in the United States and in other countries has dealt

> directly with the cancer question. Obviously, this issue is of great

> importance. Any tendency of lapacho to ameliorate the course of

> cancer

> should be made known to all persons likely to benefit from it.

>

> The absence of side effects makes lapacho a treatment of choice even

> in

> conjunction with standard forms of therapy. The user has nothing to

> lose

> and much to gain from the judicious use of lapacho. Naturally, any

> and

> all treatment of a cancerous condition should be done under the

> supervision of a qualified physician.

>

> Some constituents or groups of constituents of lapacho have indeed

> been

> found to suppress tumor formation and reduce tumor viability, both

> in

> experimental animal trials and in clinical settings involving human

> patients. In addition, anecdotal data abounds to such an extent that

> to

> overlook its importance is to turn one's back on a potentially

> invaluable source of aid and health. Leukemia has proven

> particularly

> susceptible to the application of lapacho and several of its

> constituents. Some researchers feel that lapachol is one of the most

> important anti-tumor agents in the entire world.

>

> " I had a large tumor in my brain. Traditional treatment produced

> only

> minor success. Then I began to use lapacho tea. After several weeks

> a

> CAT scan showed that the tumor was totally gone. The doctors

> couldn't

> believe it because they had classified my case as basically

> untreatable. "

>

> Part of the effectiveness of lapacho may stem from its observed

> ability

> to stimulate the production of red blood cells in bone marrow.

> Increased

> red blood cell production would improve the oxygen-carrying capacity

> of

> the blood.

>

> This, in turn, could have important implications for the health of

> tissues throughout the body. Also needed for oxygen transport by red

> cells is iron.

>

> This might explain the augmentation in lapacho's therapeutic

> properties

> when it is combined with iron-rich yerbamate, another South American

> plant; in fact, it is native practice to almost always combine these

> two

> plant species.

>

> 3. Anti-oxidant effect. In vitro trials show definite inhibition of

> free

> radicals and inflammatory leukotrienes by lapacho constituents. This

> property might underlie the effectiveness of lapacho against skin

> cancer, and definitely helps to explain observed anti-aging effects.

>

> Modern science has recently uncovered the importance of free

> radicals in

> the generation of many debilitating diseases, from cancer to

> arthritis.

> These molecules are even heavily implicated in the normal aging

> process.

> Reversing their action has become big business in world health

> circles.

> Anti-oxidants, or free-radical scavengers, have emerged as premier

> candidates for the role of healers and disease-preventers. Among the

> antioxidants few have greater potency than lapacho and other

> constituents of lapacho.

>

> 4. Analgesic effect. The administration of lapacho is consistently

> credited in reports issuing from South American clinics as a primary

> modality for lessening the pain associated with several kinds of

> cancer,

> especially cancer of the prostate, liver or breast. Arthritic pain

> has

> also been relieved with lapacho ingestion.

>

> 5. Antimicrobial/anti-parisiticidal effects. includes inhibition and

> destruction of gram positive and acid-fast bacteria (B. subtilis, M.

> pyogenes aureus, etc.), yeasts, fungi, viruses and several kinds of

> parasites. Two troublesome families of viruses inhibited by lapachol

> are

> noteworthy: Herpes viruses and HIV's.

>

> Together, these viruses account for much of the misery of mankind.

> The

> anti malarial activity of lapacho spawned a great deal of research

> interest in the early decades of this century. A 1948 article

> reviewed

> the progress and indicated that the N-factors, especially lapachol,

> were

> among the most promising anti malarial substances known at that time.

>

> Lapacho's immunostimulating action is due in part to its rather

> potent

> antimicrobial effects.

>

> " I began using yerbamate and lapacho tea about 3 mos. ago. I

> immediately

> experienced a surge of energy . . . within half-an-hour I was up

> dancing

> which is pretty amazing considering I've got MS and spent most of

> the

> Spring in a wheelchair. Within 2 days I noticed a lessening of pain

> and

> muscle spasms which was fantastic . . . my urinary, bowel and

> digestive

> functions have vastly improved . . . There is no doubt that the MS

> has

> greatly improved with the herbs as I quit using them for a week and

> all

> the old symptoms return. I start the tea again and they subside.,

> I've

> repeated this scenario three times. "

>

> 6. Anti-fungal effect. Lapacho is often singled out as the premier

> treatment for Candida or yeast infections. Lapachol, N-factors and

> xyloidone appear to be the primary active principles.9/10 By the mid

> 70's the list of N-factors that inhibited Candida albicans and other

> fungi had grown to several dozen.

>

> It would be misleading to categorically state that the N-factors in

> lapacho have proven antimicrobial and anti fungal activity in and of

> themselves. Studies have shown that the manner in which they occur

> in

> the plant must be taken into consideration. We know, for example,

> that

> anti fungal activitys lost when the N-factors are tightly bound to

> highly water-soluble or highly fat-soluble groups. It has not been

> clearly determined how the N-factors occur in lapacho.

>

> N-factors, obtainable from various chemical supply companies, have

> become favorite testing agents in government/university labs due to

> the

> rise in yeast infections resulting from increased use of cytotoxic

> drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressants.

>

> An interesting application has been reported in which toe and

> fingernail

> fungi infections are relieved by soaking these appendages in lapacho

> tea

> off and on for a couple of weeks.

>

> 7. Anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory and healing action of

> lapacho extracts was demonstrated in a study in which purple lapacho

> extract was administered to patients with cervicitis and

> cervico-vaginitis, conditions resulting variously from infections

> (candida albicans, trichomonas vaginalis), chemical irritations and

> mechanical irritation. The lapacho extract was applied intra-

> vaginally

> via gauze tampons soaked in the extract, and renewed every 24 hours.

> The

> treatment proved to be highly effective. One wonders what might

> happen

> were the tampon method combined with the ingestion of strong teas.

>

> The anti-inflammatory action of lapacho might also account for its

> observed tendency to reduce the pain, inflammation and other

> symptoms of

> arthritis. Anecdotal accounts of complete cures are even available.

> As

> yet virtually untested in research settings, the purported ability

> of

> this plant to reduce symptoms of joint disease may be ultimately

> validated and added to the growing list of benefits to be enjoyed by

> the

> daily ingestion of lapacho tea.

>

> " I recently had a violent M.S. attack. I lost my balance, lost

> vision in

> my left eye and had excruciating pain in my left leg. I went to bed,

> took the anti-siezure medication and an analgesic. I drank about 1-

> 1/2

> quarts of lapacho and mate. Within 6 hours I was up stuffing turkey.

> Usually these episodes lay me up for weeks. I am convinced the

> lapacho

> and mate made the difference. "

>

> 8. Other beneficial effects. Routine screenings have revealed

> several

> minor properties of lapacho that might occur if needed in certain

> individuals: diuretic, sedative, decongestant, and hypotensive, to

> name

> a few.

>

> " I started drinking the red lapacho because I had read a testimonial

> letter that indicated that its daily use had been effective against

> the

> pain of arthritis. I was skeptical to say the least. Prior to

> drinking

> the tea I could not stand on a hard surface for more than 5 minutes

> because the pain was excruciating in my hip . . . Since drinking the

> red

> lapacho regularly I have been on my feet for two or three hours

> without

> pain. Now the doctor tells me the tissues in my hip are

> regenerating! "

>

> Unfortunately, space limitations preclude a lengthy discussion of

> all

> the benefits of lapacho, but some of the major actions listed above

> require further elaboration as follows.

>

> ANTI-VIRAL

> One of the strongest actions of lapacho is against viruses. The

> range of

> viruses inactivated by lapacho extends from those that cause the

> common

> cold to those that are responsible for AIDS.

>

> It has been shown to actively inhibit, kill or stunt the growth of

> several dangerous viruses, including herpes virus hominis types I

> and

> II, polio virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, avian myeloblastosis

> virus,

> rauscho murine leukemia virus, friend virus, and rous sarcoma virus.

> Several other viruses are also inhibited by lapacho's N- and A-

> factors.

>

> One N-factor, beta-lapachone, inhibits enzymes in virus cells that

> directly affect the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It is also a potent

> inhibitor of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, involved in RNA/DNA

> relationships. Once these processes are inhibited, the virus is

> unable

> to take over the reproductive processes of the cell and cannot,

> therefore, replicate itself and infect other cells.

>

> Such inhibition is a characteristic of most substances that are

> being

> tested for activity against AIDS and Epstein-Barr. The enzyme in

> question is a key to the action of retroviruses. These viruses, also

> known as ribodeoxyviruses or oncornaviruses, have been implicated in

> the

> development of several kinds of experimental cancers. Beta-lapachone

> is

> obtained simply by treating lapachol with sulfuric acid, and tests

> show

> that it has a unique method of action vis-a-vis the reverse

> transcpritase inhibition.

>

> " The yerbamate and red lapacho have made me feel more alert and

> awake,

> zesty, and happy, without the harmful side effects of caffeine;

> (they)

> increase virility and vigor. "

>

> Note: Sulfurous compounds in some plants, especially yerbamate, when

> combined with lapacho might provide a catalytic base for the

> transformation of lapachol tobeta-lapachone, and hence increase the

> effectiveness of the lapacho.

>

> In this light it is interesting to note that native folklore teaches

> that yerbamate is a catalyst for lapacho; yerbamate becomes the

> foundation for lapacho therapy.

>

> ANTI PARASITIC

> Lapacho components have been intensively studied in terms of their

> action against two rather nasty parasites: Schistosoma mansoni and

> Trypanosoma cruzi, both responsible for considerable disease and

> misery

> in tropical countries. Lapacho was effective against both.

>

> Taken by mouth, lapachol is eventually secreted onto the skin via

> the

> sebaceous glands where it acts as a topical barrier, inactivating

> microorganisms soon after they contact the skin.

>

> Meanwhile, throughout the G.I tract, it is performing the identical

> function on the mucous membranes, preventing the penetration of

> parasites. The mechanism of action is not well understood, but is

> felt

> to involve the uncoupling of cellular respiration (see Cellular

> Mechanics Section), the stimulation of lipid peroxidation and super

> oxide production, and the inhibition of DNA/RNA biosynthesis.

>

> CANCER

> Lapacho has been extensively investigated for potential anti-cancer

> activity. Even the National Cancer Institute has gotten in the act,

> but

> in their own typical way, they managed to drop the ball before

> achieving

> success. They restricted their investigations to lapachol, and once

> they

> found that this substance had side effects that offset its potential

> therapeutic benefits, they abandoned the project. The holistic

> practitioner readily perceives the fallacy of that approach, and is

> skeptical of applying isolated herbal constituents. As if in

> conformation of that skepticism, research that involved whole

> lapacho

> has produced clinical anti-cancer effects without side effects.

>

> Animal research in the United States made a gigantic stride forward

> when

> it was discovered that lapachol inhibited solid tumors (Walker

> carcinosarcoma 256 and Ehrlich solid carcinoma) and Ehrlich ascites

> cell

> tumors. Such research then took a gigantic stride backwards when

> clinical toxicity of lapachol prematurely ended these

> investigations.

>

> One interesting line of research has shown that lapachol is more

> effective when ingested orally, rather than injected into the gut or

> into the muscles. These results contradict a substantial amount of

> research on orthodox drugs that indicates the superiority of

> injectable

> routes. What is the meaning of this anomaly? Could it be a sign that

> natural routes of administration (i.e., oral) are better suited for

> natural substances? The further removed from the natural state, the

> more

> active substances become when injected directly into the blood

> stream,

> and the less able the natural processes of the body are in dealing

> with

> them.

>

> Using the wood of the plant, several researchers have studied the

> effects of lapachol, alpha- and beta-lapachone and xyloidone on

> experimental cancer (Yoshida's sarcoma and Walker 256 carcino-

> sarcoma).

> As high as 84% inhibition was observed on Yoshida's sarcoma. And no

> toxicity was found.

>

> In one clinical study, South American researchers administered

> lapachol

> to patients with various forms of cancer, including adenocarcinoma

> of

> the liver, breast and prostate, and squamous carcinoma of the palate

> and

> uterine cervix. Taken orally, the substance resulted in temporary

> reduction of all conditions and in a significant reduction in pain.

> Duration of treatment was anywhere from 30 to 720 days, with an

> average

> of about two months.

>

> For example, one patient with liver cancer presented with a

> significant

> reduction in jaundice accompanied by other signs of improvement

> after

> eight days of therapy. These results were in close accord with

> results

> obtained by the same researchers in animal studies. One wonders what

> the

> administration of whole purple lapacho phloem might have

> accomplished in

> this setting; other lines of evidence suggest that even better

> results

> may have been obtained.

>

> " During exploratory surgery it was noted that I had ovarian,

> stomach,

> intestine & liver cancer. I was told I had approximately 4 to 6

> months

> to live. I made up my mind to fight. I went for chemotherapy, drank

> a

> quart of red lapacho tea, an ounce of aloe vera juice and took

> various

> vitamins daily. After 11 mos. the physicians could not believe what

> they

> found (no cancer). I continue to have regular check-ups and have

> proved

> to be a 'miracle case'. "

>

> A Note on Nausea: In the human study reported above, some patients

> dropped out of the experiment due to nausea. This is a common

> observation in some, but certainly not all, people who begin to

> experience the cleansing action of lapacho (and other healthful

> herbs).

>

> As toxins (and toxic medicines) and wastes are drawn out of the

> cells,

> or flushed out, or physiologically expelled from the cells, through

> the

> action of the herb, they tend at times to accumulate in the blood,

> lymph, lymph nodes, skin, liver and kidneys awaiting the opportunity

> to

> be expelled from the body. Backing up, they can, on occasion produce

> sensations such as nausea; the body may even try to rid itself of

> some

> toxic substances by vomiting.

>

> Not to worry. These transient signs dissipate once the toxins are

> moving

> freely from the body. They are a positive sign that the herb is

> working.

>

> Remember the body only has three basic processes for getting rid of

> wastes: lower bowel movement, sweating, urinating. The use of

> lapacho

> can so overload these processes in the early stages that discomfort

> may

> be produced.

>

October 17, 2004

JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote:

From: "JoAnn Guest" Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:02:43 -0000 Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)JoAnn Guest Oct 15, 2004 21:55 PDT Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco) Dr. Daniel B. Mowry, PhD. This pamphlet attempts to explain the meaning behind the stack of research that has been published concerning the anti-cancer, antiviral and other properties of the South American herb known as Lapacho.While a much larger volume could be written about the empirical data that has been collected around the world on the almost unbelievable properties of this plant, my chief concern is with

the experimental, medical and clinical data that bears a more certain scientific aura. Into the Light One of the last great, but largely untapped, reserves of natural resources on the face of the earth is South America. The herbal medicines that abound on this continent have been largely denied to the rest of the world; the inaccessibility of the great forests, combined with a general lack of interest, have kept the secrets of the region shrouded in darkness. Africa is a continent of light by contrast. Lapacho (Tabebuia Avellandedae, & T. Impetiginosa) comes from the rain forests and mountains of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. We have known about this plant for almost 100 years, yet efforts to import medicinally active lapacho have failed more than they have succeeded.In spite of the difficulties, the interest remains extremely high, because this plant holds great promise for the effective treatment

of cancers, candida and other troublesome infections, debilitating diseases (including arthritis), as well as a host of other complaints. Anyone familiar with the recurring ginseng and goldenseal fiascos will appreciate the similar state of affairs that exists in the business of lapacho. In fact the chances of obtaining good quality ginseng and goldenseal in American health food stores are greater than the odds of obtaining good quality lapacho. A vast majority of commercial lapacho is void of significant activity. The reason is primarily lack of quality control at every stage of the enterprise; gatherers, unaware as to which parts of the plant contain the active material, harvest all parts of the plant; curers, unaware of the traditional lapacho curing practices, make assumptions that are more often wrong than right; shippers pay little attention to protecting the material from the hazards of transportation;

manufacturers, unaware of what constitutes really good lapacho (having never bothered to go to South America and have a look), don't have any idea how to set up quality control or standardization practices that guarantee activity. You must exercise extraordinary care in your purchases of lapacho, and buy only when you have ascertained the expertise of the manufacturer. Generally speaking, the best lapacho will be obtained from manufacturers specializing in this herb. DESCRIPTION Lapacho is an evergreen tree, with rosy colored flowers, belonging to the Bignonia family. Nearly 100 species of lapacho trees are known, but only a few of these yield high quality material, and it takes extremely skilled gatherers to tell the difference. The medicinal part of the tree is the bark, specifically the inner lining of the bark, called the phloem (pronounced floam). The use of whole bark, containing the dead wood,

naturally dilutes the activity of the material. Lapacho is also known by the Portuguese name of Pau D'Arco, and by tribal names such as Taheebo and Ipe Roxo. Some texts distinguish between Lapacho colorado (red lapacho-ipe roxo) (scarlet flowers) and Lapacho morado (purple lapacho) which grows in cooler climates such as high in the Andes, and high places in Paraguay.Recent evidence suggests that these two varieties of lapacho possess superior medicinal properties, with a slight bow going to the purple as the best of all. CONSTITUENTS Most of the chemical analyses of lapacho have been performed on the heartwood of the tree, rather than on the phloem, or inner lining of the bark, which is used medicinally. It is unclear why this has occurred. One reason may be that the heartwood contains enough quantities of a couple of important constituents, mainly lapachol and tabebuin, to satisfy current

research interests. Once the therapeutic activity of those constituents has been thoroughly investigated, perhaps researchers will turn their attention to the phloem. Until then, it is probably safe to assume that the living bark contains a similar set of active constituents as the heartwood plus some others that make it more effective and would account for the living bark's greater popularity as a folk medicine. Traditionally, as anyone who chooses to examine the herbal literature of the world can verify, it is the living bark of a plant, especially a tree or shrub, that is used medicinally--not the heartwood. The reason is simple: the nutrients and representative families of chemical substances used to sustain the life of the tree are found in greatest concentration in the cambium layer and phloem of the living bark. The life processes of a mature tree are carried out in the thin corridor lying between the

outer bark and the inner heartwood. Pull the bark off a tree and you will notice moist, very thin layers of tissue that seem to shred when picked at with the hands. This is the cambium layer. Its purpose is to create new tree tissues, such as phloem, through cell division. The newest, youngest phloem cells are just outside the cambium. As new phloem is added, older cells are crushed and pressed into the bark.Younger, newer cells added to the inside of the cambium layer are called xylem. Newer xylem is called sapwood; older xylem is crushed and pressed into the heart of the tree. It is therfore known as heartwood. The actively conducting tissues of a tree are the thin layers of fresh xylem and phloem on each side of the cambium. The outer bark and heartwood are, essentially, inactive materials that only serve to provide strength to the tree. Indiscriminate combining of older, less active layers of bark and tree with

the younger, living tissues results in a dramatic dilution of active principle and medicinal value. Yet it is a common practice. Lapachol is just one of a number of plant substances known as napthaquinones (N-factors) that occur in lapacho. Anthraquinones, or A-factors, comprise another important class of compounds. The N-factors are not common except in herbal tonics. Seldom do both N- and A-factors occur in the same species. Several of the remarkable properties of lapacho may be due to a probable synergy between A- and N- factors. Quercitin, xloidone and other flavonoids are also present in lapacho; these undoubtedly contribute to the plant's effectiveness in the treatment of tumors and infections. FOLKLORE The native Indians of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and other South American countries have used lapacho for medicinal purposes for thousands of years; there are indications that

its use may actually ante-date the Incas. Before the advent of the Spanish, the Guarani and Tupi-Nambo tribes, in particular, used great quantities of lapacho tea. In the high Andes, the Callawaya, the Quechua, Aymara and other tribes used lapacho ("taheebo" to them) for many complaints. Lapacho is applied externally and internally for the treatment of fevers, infections, colds, flu, syphilis, cancer, respiratory problems, skin ulcerations and boils, dysentery, gastro-intestinal problems of all kinds, debilitating conditions such as arthritis and prostatitis, and circulation disturbances., Other conditions have reportedly been cured with lapacho including lupus, diabetes, Hodgkins disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's disease, and psoriasis. It is used to relieve pain, kill germs, increase the flow of urine, and even as an antidote to poisons.Its use in many ways parallels that of the immuno-stimulants

echinacea on this continent and ginseng in Asia, except that its action appears to exceed them both in terms of its potential as a cancer treatment.The Guarani, Tupi and other tribes called the lapacho tree "Tajy," meaning "to have strength and vigor," or simply, "The Divine Tree." Modern Guarani Indians prefer the purple lapacho, but also use the red lapacho. And they use only the inner lining of the bark. The use of lapacho may not be limited to tropical countries. A Yugoslavian scientist, Voislav Todorovic, claims that he has found evidence that the plant was used by the Vikings and the Russians. He also claims that a Russian chemist (in the late 1800's) manufactured a toothpaste that contained lapacho that was supposed to have been extremely effective in preventing tooth decay. EARLY SCIENTIFIC WORK Research on lapacho has been going on for a long time. E. Paterno isolated the active

constituent, lapachol, in 1884. Inn 1896, S.C. Hooker established the chemical structure of lapachol, and L.F. Fieser synthesized the substance in 1927! So it would be a mistake to call lapacho a modern discovery. As early as 1873, physicians were aware of the healing action of lapacho. Dr. Joaquin Almeida Pinto wrote during that year, "Pau D'Arco: Medicinal Properties: prescribed as a fever-reducer; the bark is used against ulcers; also used for venereal and rheumatic disorders and especially useful for skin disorders, especially eczema, herpes and the mange". Another early physician, Dr. Walter Accorsi, reported that lapacho, "eliminated the pains caused by the disease (cancer) and multiplies the body's production of red corpuscles." However, the science of lapacho began properly with the work of Theodoro Meyer in Argentina who tried for decades with little success to convince the medical world of

the value of lapacho for infections and cancer. Data from his laboratory are astounding in terms of the success rate observed when applying the herb in dozens of different kinds of cancer. Much of Meyer's work was primitive by modern research standards; most of it lacked adequate controls and statistical evaluation. But the sheer bulk of it is good evidence for the efficacy of lapacho. The Meyer era ended at his death in 1972, with the scientific world left still largely unconvinced of the usefulness of lapacho as a modern medicinal agent. Perhaps the most important thing Meyer accomplished, from a scientific point of view, was to bring lapacho to the attention of the rest of world, to extract the plant from the jungles of the Amazon, and announce, "Here is a folk remedy with great promise for all mankind." Independent of Meyer, a physician in Brazil, about 1960, after hearing a tale of its miraculous

curative powers, used lapacho to treat his brother who was lying in a Santo Andre, Brazil hospital, dying of cancer. His brother recovered, and the physician, Dr. Orlando dei Santi, began to use the herb to treat other cancer patients at the hospital. Other physicians joined the team, and after a few months, several case histories of cures were recorded. In the typical case, pain disappeared rapidly and sometimes complete remission was achieved in as little as four weeks. Because of the work at the Municipal Hospital of Santo Andre, lapacho has become a standard form of treatment for some kinds of cancer and for all kinds of infections in medical establishments throughout Brazil. It should be noted that after the first reports of "miraculous" herbal cures appeared in Brazil, the national government ordered a blackout of any more public statements by doctors involved in the research. The silence was

finally broken by Alec De Montmorency, who in 1981 published a lengthy review of the ongoing clinical work in Brazil. This report succeeded in stimulating worldwide interest in the plant. In 1968, Dr. Prats Ruiz of Concepcion, Argentina, successfully treated three cases of leukemia in his private clinic. Some of these results were widely published and also helped to establish the popularity of lapacho among the "civilized" inhabitants of South American countries. American physicians, of course, tend to look disparagingly upon the clinical evidence from backward areas of South America, preferring instead sanitized evidence from their own brightly lit laboratories. The weight of the South American clinical evidence has not been sufficient to cause widespread acceptance of the treatment outside South America, but it has stimulated research interest abroad. Pharmaceutical companies regularly screen

lapacho for the presence of substances that could be the basis for new drug applications. As we shall see, however, no isolated component of lapacho comes anywhere close to being equal to the combined activity of all constituents, or, in other words, to the whole herb. Drug Detox Observations. A common thread that runs throughout early and current empirical and clinical reports of lapacho treatment is the consistent observation that the herb eliminates many of the common side effects of the orthodox medications. There is no explanation of this action, but it is so often seen that one cannot easily doubt its validity. Pain, hair loss and immune dysfunction are among the symptoms most commonly eliminated. MODERN INVESTIGATIVE WORK While scientific research on lapacho has been going on for decades, most of it is worthless from a medicinal point of view. Some of it, however, is

very good, and has resulted in the isolation of several individual medicinally active constituents and in the analysis of their properties. The current interest in AIDS has stimulated renewed interest in lapacho since the herb is such an effective anti-viral substance. The main problem with American research on the plant is the tunnel-vision with which the work is engaged. Without any understanding of the ultimate source of the plant's effectiveness, researchers routinely isolate what they think should be the active component and apply it in standard screening trials. The results of such research are sometimes positive, sometimes negative, sometimes strong, sometimes weak--always inadequate, by definition. It didn't surprise anyone that the trials performed by the National Cancer Institute were less than convincing. And it also didn't surprise anyone when that same institute rejected out-of-hand the

highly positive results obtained by many non-American researchers who utilized different methods. The self-serving tendency of the American medical/regulatory establishment to accept only its own research is indulged by the rest of the world's scientific community with polite and somewhat amused patience, as they wait for America to grow up. The following is a summary of some of the effects of lapacho and/or any of its constituents that have been validated by modern research: 1. Laxative effect. Regular use of lapacho will maintain regularity of bowel movements. This property is undoubtedly due to the presence of the napthaquinones and anthraquinones. Users of lapacho universally report a pleasant and moderate loosening of the bowels that leads to greater regularity without any unpleasant side-effects such as diarrhea. 2. Anti-cancer effect. The greater part of the basic research on

lapacho, both in the United States and in other countries has dealt directly with the cancer question. Obviously, this issue is of great importance. Any tendency of lapacho to ameliorate the course of cancer should be made known to all persons likely to benefit from it. The absence of side effects makes lapacho a treatment of choice even in conjunction with standard forms of therapy. The user has nothing to lose and much to gain from the judicious use of lapacho. Naturally, any and all treatment of a cancerous condition should be done under the supervision of a qualified physician. Some constituents or groups of constituents of lapacho have indeed been found to suppress tumor formation and reduce tumor viability, both in experimental animal trials and in clinical settings involving human patients. In addition, anecdotal data abounds to such an extent that to overlook its importance is to turn

one's back on a potentially invaluable source of aid and health. Leukemia has proven particularly susceptible to the application of lapacho and several of its constituents. Some researchers feel that lapachol is one of the most important anti-tumor agents in the entire world. "I had a large tumor in my brain. Traditional treatment produced only minor success. Then I began to use lapacho tea. After several weeks a CAT scan showed that the tumor was totally gone. The doctors couldn't believe it because they had classified my case as basically untreatable." Part of the effectiveness of lapacho may stem from its observed ability to stimulate the production of red blood cells in bone marrow. Increased red blood cell production would improve the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This, in turn, could have important implications for the health of tissues throughout the body. Also needed

for oxygen transport by red cells is iron. This might explain the augmentation in lapacho's therapeutic properties when it is combined with iron-rich yerbamate, another South American plant; in fact, it is native practice to almost always combine these two plant species. 3. Anti-oxidant effect. In vitro trials show definite inhibition of free radicals and inflammatory leukotrienes by lapacho constituents. This property might underlie the effectiveness of lapacho against skin cancer, and definitely helps to explain observed anti-aging effects. Modern science has recently uncovered the importance of free radicals in the generation of many debilitating diseases, from cancer to arthritis. These molecules are even heavily implicated in the normal aging process. Reversing their action has become big business in world health circles. Anti-oxidants, or free-radical scavengers, have emerged as

premier candidates for the role of healers and disease-preventers. Among the antioxidants few have greater potency than lapacho and other constituents of lapacho. 4. Analgesic effect. The administration of lapacho is consistently credited in reports issuing from South American clinics as a primary modality for lessening the pain associated with several kinds of cancer, especially cancer of the prostate, liver or breast. Arthritic pain has also been relieved with lapacho ingestion. 5. Antimicrobial/anti-parisiticidal effects. includes inhibition and destruction of gram positive and acid-fast bacteria (B. subtilis, M. pyogenes aureus, etc.), yeasts, fungi, viruses and several kinds of parasites. Two troublesome families of viruses inhibited by lapachol are noteworthy: Herpes viruses and HIV's. Together, these viruses account for much of the misery of mankind. The anti malarial activity of lapacho

spawned a great deal of research interest in the early decades of this century. A 1948 article reviewed the progress and indicated that the N-factors, especially lapachol, were among the most promising anti malarial substances known at that time.Lapacho's immunostimulating action is due in part to its rather potent antimicrobial effects. "I began using yerbamate and lapacho tea about 3 mos. ago. I immediately experienced a surge of energy . . . within half-an-hour I was up dancing which is pretty amazing considering I've got MS and spent most of the Spring in a wheelchair. Within 2 days I noticed a lessening of pain and muscle spasms which was fantastic . . . my urinary, bowel and digestive functions have vastly improved . . . There is no doubt that the MS has greatly improved with the herbs as I quit using them for a week and all the old symptoms return. I start the tea again and

they subside., I've repeated this scenario three times." 6. Anti-fungal effect. Lapacho is often singled out as the premier treatment for Candida or yeast infections. Lapachol, N-factors and xyloidone appear to be the primary active principles.9/10 By the mid 70's the list of N-factors that inhibited Candida albicans and other fungi had grown to several dozen. It would be misleading to categorically state that the N-factors in lapacho have proven antimicrobial and anti fungal activity in and of themselves. Studies have shown that the manner in which they occur in the plant must be taken into consideration. We know, for example, that anti fungal activitys lost when the N-factors are tightly bound to highly water-soluble or highly fat-soluble groups. It has not been clearly determined how the N-factors occur in lapacho. N-factors, obtainable from various chemical supply companies, have become favorite

testing agents in government/university labs due to the rise in yeast infections resulting from increased use of cytotoxic drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressants. An interesting application has been reported in which toe and fingernail fungi infections are relieved by soaking these appendages in lapacho tea off and on for a couple of weeks. 7. Anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory and healing action of lapacho extracts was demonstrated in a study in which purple lapacho extract was administered to patients with cervicitis and cervico-vaginitis, conditions resulting variously from infections (candida albicans, trichomonas vaginalis), chemical irritations and mechanical irritation. The lapacho extract was applied intra-vaginally via gauze tampons soaked in the extract, and renewed every 24 hours. The treatment proved to be highly effective. One wonders what might happen were

the tampon method combined with the ingestion of strong teas. The anti-inflammatory action of lapacho might also account for its observed tendency to reduce the pain, inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis. Anecdotal accounts of complete cures are even available. As yet virtually untested in research settings, the purported ability of this plant to reduce symptoms of joint disease may be ultimately validated and added to the growing list of benefits to be enjoyed by the daily ingestion of lapacho tea. "I recently had a violent M.S. attack. I lost my balance, lost vision in my left eye and had excruciating pain in my left leg. I went to bed, took the anti-siezure medication and an analgesic. I drank about 1-1/2 quarts of lapacho and mate. Within 6 hours I was up stuffing turkey. Usually these episodes lay me up for weeks. I am convinced the lapacho and mate made the difference." 8.

Other beneficial effects. Routine screenings have revealed several minor properties of lapacho that might occur if needed in certain individuals: diuretic, sedative, decongestant, and hypotensive, to name a few. "I started drinking the red lapacho because I had read a testimonial letter that indicated that its daily use had been effective against the pain of arthritis. I was skeptical to say the least. Prior to drinking the tea I could not stand on a hard surface for more than 5 minutes because the pain was excruciating in my hip . . . Since drinking the red lapacho regularly I have been on my feet for two or three hours without pain. Now the doctor tells me the tissues in my hip are regenerating!" Unfortunately, space limitations preclude a lengthy discussion of all the benefits of lapacho, but some of the major actions listed above require further elaboration as follows.

ANTI-VIRAL One of the strongest actions of lapacho is against viruses. The range of viruses inactivated by lapacho extends from those that cause the common cold to those that are responsible for AIDS. It has been shown to actively inhibit, kill or stunt the growth of several dangerous viruses, including herpes virus hominis types I and II, polio virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, avian myeloblastosis virus, rauscho murine leukemia virus, friend virus, and rous sarcoma virus. Several other viruses are also inhibited by lapacho's N- and A-factors. One N-factor, beta-lapachone, inhibits enzymes in virus cells that directly affect the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It is also a potent inhibitor of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, involved in RNA/DNA relationships. Once these processes are inhibited, the virus is unable to take over the reproductive processes of the cell and cannot, therefore,

replicate itself and infect other cells. Such inhibition is a characteristic of most substances that are being tested for activity against AIDS and Epstein-Barr. The enzyme in question is a key to the action of retroviruses. These viruses, also known as ribodeoxyviruses or oncornaviruses, have been implicated in the development of several kinds of experimental cancers. Beta-lapachone is obtained simply by treating lapachol with sulfuric acid, and tests show that it has a unique method of action vis-a-vis the reverse transcpritase inhibition. "The yerbamate and red lapacho have made me feel more alert and awake, zesty, and happy, without the harmful side effects of caffeine; (they) increase virility and vigor." Note: Sulfurous compounds in some plants, especially yerbamate, when combined with lapacho might provide a catalytic base for the transformation of lapachol tobeta-lapachone, and hence

increase the effectiveness of the lapacho. In this light it is interesting to note that native folklore teaches that yerbamate is a catalyst for lapacho; yerbamate becomes the foundation for lapacho therapy. ANTI PARASITIC Lapacho components have been intensively studied in terms of their action against two rather nasty parasites: Schistosoma mansoni and Trypanosoma cruzi, both responsible for considerable disease and misery in tropical countries. Lapacho was effective against both. Taken by mouth, lapachol is eventually secreted onto the skin via the sebaceous glands where it acts as a topical barrier, inactivating microorganisms soon after they contact the skin. Meanwhile, throughout the G.I tract, it is performing the identical function on the mucous membranes, preventing the penetration of parasites. The mechanism of action is not well understood, but is felt to involve the uncoupling

of cellular respiration (see Cellular Mechanics Section), the stimulation of lipid peroxidation and super oxide production, and the inhibition of DNA/RNA biosynthesis. CANCER Lapacho has been extensively investigated for potential anti-cancer activity. Even the National Cancer Institute has gotten in the act, but in their own typical way, they managed to drop the ball before achieving success. They restricted their investigations to lapachol, and once they found that this substance had side effects that offset its potential therapeutic benefits, they abandoned the project. The holistic practitioner readily perceives the fallacy of that approach, and is skeptical of applying isolated herbal constituents. As if in conformation of that skepticism, research that involved whole lapacho has produced clinical anti-cancer effects without side effects. Animal research in the United States made a gigantic

stride forward when it was discovered that lapachol inhibited solid tumors (Walker carcinosarcoma 256 and Ehrlich solid carcinoma) and Ehrlich ascites cell tumors. Such research then took a gigantic stride backwards when clinical toxicity of lapachol prematurely ended these investigations. One interesting line of research has shown that lapachol is more effective when ingested orally, rather than injected into the gut or into the muscles. These results contradict a substantial amount of research on orthodox drugs that indicates the superiority of injectable routes. What is the meaning of this anomaly? Could it be a sign that natural routes of administration (i.e., oral) are better suited for natural substances? The further removed from the natural state, the more active substances become when injected directly into the blood stream, and the less able the natural processes of the body are in dealing

with them. Using the wood of the plant, several researchers have studied the effects of lapachol, alpha- and beta-lapachone and xyloidone on experimental cancer (Yoshida's sarcoma and Walker 256 carcino-sarcoma). As high as 84% inhibition was observed on Yoshida's sarcoma. And no toxicity was found. In one clinical study, South American researchers administered lapachol to patients with various forms of cancer, including adenocarcinoma of the liver, breast and prostate, and squamous carcinoma of the palate and uterine cervix. Taken orally, the substance resulted in temporary reduction of all conditions and in a significant reduction in pain. Duration of treatment was anywhere from 30 to 720 days, with an average of about two months. For example, one patient with liver cancer presented with a significant reduction in jaundice accompanied by other signs of improvement after

eight days of therapy. These results were in close accord with results obtained by the same researchers in animal studies. One wonders what the administration of whole purple lapacho phloem might have accomplished in this setting; other lines of evidence suggest that even better results may have been obtained. "During exploratory surgery it was noted that I had ovarian, stomach, intestine & liver cancer. I was told I had approximately 4 to 6 months to live. I made up my mind to fight. I went for chemotherapy, drank a quart of red lapacho tea, an ounce of aloe vera juice and took various vitamins daily. After 11 mos. the physicians could not believe what they found (no cancer). I continue to have regular check-ups and have proved to be a 'miracle case'." A Note on Nausea: In the human study reported above, some patients dropped out of the experiment due to nausea. This is a

common observation in some, but certainly not all, people who begin to experience the cleansing action of lapacho (and other healthful herbs). As toxins (and toxic medicines) and wastes are drawn out of the cells, or flushed out, or physiologically expelled from the cells, through the action of the herb, they tend at times to accumulate in the blood, lymph, lymph nodes, skin, liver and kidneys awaiting the opportunity to be expelled from the body. Backing up, they can, on occasion produce sensations such as nausea; the body may even try to rid itself of some toxic substances by vomiting. Not to worry. These transient signs dissipate once the toxins are moving freely from the body. They are a positive sign that the herb is working. Remember the body only has three basic processes for getting rid of wastes: lower bowel movement, sweating, urinating. The use of lapacho can so

overload these processes in the early stages that discomfort may be produced. "My wife was dying of cancer. She has a malignant tumor on her temple. The pain was so intense the doctors wanted to keep her sedated in the hospital until she died. We decided not to give up. For three weeks now she has been drinking purple lapacho tea. The tumor looks much better; it began draining and no longer looks so 'angry.' The pain is much less, and she can get up and move around the house. Our M.D. is impressed! . . . Now we have hope!" CELLULAR MECHANICS Every cell of the body requires oxygen and glucose to obtain energy for life-sustaining functions. The oxygen and glucose are subjected to a fairly complex metabolic process in the tiny energy producing structures in the cell called mitochondria. This process requires numerous enzymes and coenzymes.The oxygen and glucose are

converted to carbon dioxide and water which are then returned to the blood. the CO2 is exhaled by the lungs (hence this metabolic process is often called "respiration"); excess water is eventually drawn off through perspiration or through the kidneys. During this conversion, several free electrons are freed up, which are immediately utilized by another pathway to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell--ATP is the molecule every cell is required to utilize, or spend, to obtain energy. The two paths--one for breakdown of glucose, and one for synthesis of ATP--are tightly coupled together. Should they become uncoupled, the cell can no longer obtain energy, and it dies. Such poisoning has acquired the name of "uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation." Many agents have been found that uncouple oxidative phosphorylation; many of them resemble the N-factors in lapacho. In fact, it

has been found that lapacho works like other benzoquionones, i.e., it uncouples the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation occurring in cancerous cells, but not in healthy ones. This selective killing (cytotoxicity) of tumor cells is what makes lapacho such a potentially valuable agent for the treatment of cancer. One of the games science plays is attempting to discover at what point cellular respiration is broken up by chemical agents. The components of lapacho seem to interrupt the process at several points, usually by inhibiting an enzyme or coenzyme that is required for the next step in the chain to occur properly. For instance, lapacho inhibits the proper functioning of ATPase, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step in the formation of ATP. Lapachol has also been shown to inhibit the amount of another substance required for cellular reproduction: uridine triphosphate. This

molecule is the main source of substances (called pyrimidine nucleotides) that are required by cells in order to build DNA, RNA and most other important proteins of the body. Lapacho may actually block the syntheses of pyrimidines in cancer cells (by inhibiting the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase). The result would be certain cellular death. There is also evidence that lapachol interacts directly with the nucleic acids of the DNA helix in cancerous cells. If such interaction, or bonding, takes place then DNA replication would be impossible. The result is also eventual death of the cell. Finally, lapacho constituent beta-lapachone has been shown to weaken malignant cells, even to the point of cellular death, by stimulating a process known as lipid peroxidation, which produces toxic molecules. P> TOXICITY While there can be no doubt that lapacho is very toxic to many kinds of

cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and other kinds of microorganisms, the substance appears to be without any kind of significant toxicity to healthy human cells. The side-effects mainly encountered, and usually with isolated lapacho constituents, are limited to nausea and anticoagulant effects in very high doses, a tendency to loosen the bowels, and diarrhea in very high doses. As indicated earlier, some nausea should be expected as a natural consequence of the detoxification process. The FDA gave lapacho a clean bill of health in 1981. Some trials have indicated that lapachol has anti-vitamin K action. Other constituents have a pro-vitamain K action; it is likely, therefore, that the two actions cancel each other out (except possibly when one or the other is necessary--as one would expect from an herbal tonic). Perhaps the most significant study on toxicity was published in

1970 by researchers from the Chase Pfizer & Co., Inc. Looking specifically at lapachol, these investigators found that all signs of lapachol toxicity in animals were completely reversible and even self limiting, i.e., over time the signs of toxicity decreased and even disappeared within the time constraints of the study. The most severe kinds of self-limiting side-effects they observed were an anti-vitamin K effect, anemia, and significant rises of metabolic and protein toxins in the blood stream. The diminution of these signs indicates that lapacho initiates an immediate "alterative" or "detoxification" effect on the body's cells. Once the cells are "cleaned up," the signs of toxicity disappear. This effect is quite common among herbal tonics. HOW MUCH AND WHEN Lapacho can be used periodically as a preventative during colds and flu season, or whenever the chances for

infections are high. Experience has taught that lapacho is best ingested as a tea, one or two cups a day, morning and evening. Used in this fashion, it promotes the health of the immune system, helps prevent the onset of colds and flus, keeps the bowel healthy and may impart some of the other important therapeutic effects, including a positive effect on arthritis, pain, localized infection (e.g. candida) and systemic infection. During periods of acute, active infection, lapacho should be administered several times a day in tea form. It is up to the individual to determine the optimum amount for him or her. It is not uncommon for a person's awareness of his or her personal health needs and requirements to increase dramatically when turning to a health-oriented, herbal approach. "I was bitten by a brown recluse spider, but didn't know it for 3 days; it was finally diagnosed in an emergency

room when the pain and swelling got so bad I couldn't take it any longer. An ointment was prescribed, but I used instead a compress made of two tea bags of lapacho, changed often. Relief was almost immediate. And, after 3 days, the doctor was amazed by the fact that all swelling and pain had disappeared, and new, healthy, tissue was growing back rapidly." One of the best ways to ingest lapacho is in tea form, either with tea bags, or in a loosely cut and sifted, or "bulk" form. Using bulk presents problems of filtering out the fiber. The use of the South American "bombilla," a metal straw with a filter on one end, normally used for drinking yerbamate, neatly solves this problem. Capsules are also available, but are not nearly as effective as the tea. One of the most intriguing routes of administration is the recent introduction to the marketplace of a mist that is simply sprayed into

the mouth and rapidly absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It is highly recommended by this author as well as folklore wisdom that lapacho be routinely combined with yerbamate. The reasoning, based on centuries of experience in these matters by South American natives, is that the yerbamate has an activating effect on the actions of lapacho. Yerbamate, of course, imparts a good deal of medicinal action itself, as discussed in my booklet: "YerbaMate: Unequaled Natural Nutrition." CONCLUSION Throughout the width and breadth of the earth there exist plants with the amazing ability to cure and prevent the ills of mankind when used with wisdom. They grow and blossom and concentrate valuable healing nutrients within their tissues. It is the obligation of animals and people to discover these properties and utilize them in the manner intended by the governing and organizing principles of

nature.The search does not begin nor end in a research laboratory. It begins with the experimentation of simple people living close to the earth, who invest nothing in their search save the desire to live healthy, prevent sickness and cure disease. It ends when the rest of the world accepts knowledge so gained, and incorporates it into their own health system. The need for scientific examination results in the accumulation of interesting and sometimes useful data; at its best it opens new avenues for effective application of the wisdom of the ancients.At its worst, it asks the wrong questions, obtains the wrong answers, becomes puffed up by its own importance, and gets in the way of man's quest for the discovery of nature's healing gifts. Science and folklore need not clash. When they do, it is usually because the wrong questions were asked, the wrong answers obtained, the

wrong materials examined, the wrong people involved. Lapacho currently finds itself in the middle of worldwide confusion. As data showing the efficacy of lapacho accumulates in some areas of the world, other areas continue to ignore basic sources of information; data gathered in such a vacuum disappoints the mind and obstructs progress. We prefer to believe that lapacho, given enough time, will emerge into the full light of day, even from the dark and muddling laboratories of the United States, and will take its rightful place as one of the great healing herbs of the world. We prefer to believe that until then the herb will be immune to the dealings of dim and uninspired regulatory proceedings on bright continents. We prefer to believe that, in the end, the millions of lapacho users will prevail. Note on the Text The material appearing in italic with quotation marks around it, throughout this

report, was taken from actual letters in my files. Where necessary, the generic term "lapacho" was used in place of brand names. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Mowry is known primarily for his efforts to bring scientific data about herbal medicine to the attention of the American public. Toward this end he has published the books entitled the Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, and Guaranteed Potency Herbs: Next Generation Herbal Medicine, which have become standard texts in the field. Dr. Mowry is Director of the Mountainwest Institute of Herbal Sciences, in Salt Lake City, Utah. -------------------------------- PAU D'ARCO CLINICAL TESTS -------------------------------Clinical Laboratory Studies Show Cancer Cell Destruction This article will summarise the results of clinical research studies

conducted by the company, "Taheebo Japan Co., Ltd." located in Osaka, Japan. Clinical laboratory tests were conducted at Tokyo University and other profession medical laboratories which culminated in the issuance of United States Patent Number 5,663,197 on September 2, 1997. -- Taheebo Japan then produced and marketed a substance called "NFD" which they marketed as a tea product and priced the product at $280.00(US) per pound. -- This patent proves that constituents extracted from the Tabebuia Avellanedae (Pau d'Arco) tree bark "remarkably inhibits the growth" and "exhibits selective toxicity" of 23 specific types of cancer cells. The compound also "was found to inhibit the growth almost completely" and "cause necrosis (death)" in 12 specific types of malignant cancer tumors.

---Here are the 23 different types of cancer cells listed in the study: Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A-549 Cells Human Lung Adenocarcinoma VMRC-LCD Human Lung Adenocarcinoma SK-LU-1 Human Lung Squamous Carcinoma Human Colon Adenocarcinoma WiDr Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma A-431 Human Cervical Carcinoma HeLa Human Cholangiocarcinoma HuCC-T1 Mouse Melanima B16 (M4) Human Malignant B-Cell Lymphoma Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K-562 Human Pancreatic Carcinoma ASPC-1 Human Neuroblastoma IMR-132 Human Urinary Bladder Carcinoma T24 Human Renal Cell Carcinoma VMRC-RCW Human Gastric Cancer NUGC-2 Human Thyroid Carcinoma 8305C Human Breast Cancer MRK-nu-1 Human Hepatoma HUH-7 Human Ovarian Carcinoma TYK-nu Human Chorio Carcinoma BeWo

--Here are the 12 different types of malignant tumors listed: 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 Chorio Carcinoma -- This patent was approved and obtained on the results of scientific laboratory research studies. This study does not make any claims as to the results that may be attained when using the "NFD" product as a herbal remedy for cancer. Human research studies have not been done to date. Why haven't human research studies on such a promising herbal remedy been accomplished? We can only speculate... Also, this study

used only three of the constituents from the Pau d'Arco tree bark. There are over 30 different identified constituents that reside in this remarkable herb. As stated in Walter Lubeck's book, "The Healing Power of Pau d'Arco", "There wasn't just one individual "miracle active ingredient" in Pau D'Arco responsible for all the good results. Its extensive healing power originates in the totality of the substances contained within this plant, which we are completely justified in calling unique, and their fortunate balanced state and harmonious combination with each other. Because of the fantastic composition of the active ingredients, even the smallest amounts of the individual active ingredients can make a decisive contribution to processes like the inhibition of tumor growth.If the components are used in an isolated manner, much of their healing power disappears and the excellent tolerance and harmonious

effect of the tea is often lost. Medical experts speculate with me that Pau d'Arco tea, in its natural state, is more effective than any form of a "processed" product. ---Click here to view U. S. Patent No. 5,663,197 ---PAU D'ARCO TEA TESTIMONIALS AND TRUE STORIES -- The original letter that tweeked my interest in the tea was written in February of 1991. My life long friend in El Cajon, California showed me this letter from his childhood teacher living in Rock Springs, Wyoming, written a year after her start in taking Pau D'Arco tea: 1. Dorothy Conley: Rock Springs, Wyoming This Thanksgiving I am thankful for "You". I have

planned this surprise for sometime because I had longed to write you for so long... ... So now I want you to know I am sending my love and deepest appreciation for the special way you have touched me in my hour of need. When a Dr. (4 Drs.opinions) sends you home to die and say can have as little as one week to live, our priorities begin to spin! My 1st challenge was acceptance followed by an attitude and faith (in big doses)... ...Our priorities begin to juggle around real fast and the important things in life are our relationship with the Lord, our family & friends. These are truly God's richest blessings. I hope that I have become a better person because of my experience and your help through the "Big C" struggle. I try to "Reach Out" daily to cheer or find someone hurting and hoping to make up in my small way what others have given to me, as you carried me through the

lonely days. I don't have time & I am too happy to dwell on the bad days. The million blessings easily overpower. These come from you, my pastor, and the Pau D'Arco Tea which has been regularly shipped free from my dear friend Earl Anderson. What a friend! "Today" -I feel great!- I have been given 365 days with 24 hours in each to use as I will. I don't know about tomorrow as none of us do, but today is GOOD! I have been asked to talk to High School Group and I will teach them to pray, forgive & love and to "Fight for a Miracle" because we never walk alone. -- In 1994, Dorothy Conley, with her son and daughter, drove from Rock Springs to El Cajon to thank Mr. Anderson in person ...for saving her life...

-- 2. Wally Nilson: El Cariso Village, California This is the story of Wally, my neighbor, who lives over the hill near my residence in El Cariso Village: Several years ago I noticed my absentee neighbor, Marcel, was sitting up by his barn on the property next to mine. He was sitting with a friend enjoying the sunny day and chatting with his long time acquaintance. I drove up the road to say "Hello" as I always did when I saw him on his infrequent visits to the undeveloped property that he purchased many years ago. He was sitting with Wally, our neighbor, who has operated his heavy equipement business for too many years to recall. I knew Wally and had used his services to clear portions of my property from time to time. I was shocked to see Wally in the decimated condition that he was. It

was obvious to me that Wally was near death. He had been diagnosed to die within four months. I immediately rushed back to my house where I always keep a few pounds of Pau D'Arco Tea and gave a pound to Wally, with instructions on where to buy some more from the "Mom & Pop" business in Los Angeles. One day, about three months later, I listened to a message from Wally on my telephone recorder. Wally stated "Hey Rog, I just wanted to thank you for the tea. I couldn't drink much everyday because most of my digestive system had been removed as the result of my cancer. I drank as much as I could and now there is nothing wrong with me. The cancer is completely gone!" -- Wally is now an enthusiastic supporter of Pau D'Arco Tea and is never without his bottle of Pau D'Arco and Green tea.

-- 3. Damon Waitley: Kailua Kona, Hawaii This is the story of one of my best friends. Our careers as pilots with the airlines started in early 1968: Approximately two years ago my good buddy, Damon, had told me that he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his prostate gland. This was not too surprising since the ailment had a history in his family. His father had it as well as his older brother. Damon was interested in using Pau D'Arco Tea to see if it had an effect on his malady. I gave him some of the tea and he drank it daily as suggested. When the biopsy was performed he had a PSA count (a preliminary procedure to analyze a potential problem in the prostate) of 8.6 indicating that he had a serious problem with his prostate. Damon called me approximately 2 1/2 months later to tell

me of the results of drinking the tea. His PSA count had dropped from 8.6 to a count of 0.8! I've never heard of a PSA count that low! The operation (removal of his prostate gland) was scheduled within days. I begged him to postpone the operation since it was so intrusive and with no recourse. His wife and doctor ($$$) were putting pressure on him to proceed as scheduled. Damon has always been influenced by the people around him. He is a true romantic. He loves people and wants to please them in any fashion. This was his downfall... The operation proceeded as scheduled. Damon called me shortly thereafter and told me of his experience. He stated "Rog, that was the biggest mistake that I have ever made in my life. I regreted the decision the day after I was operated on. Now, I have to live with that decision the rest of my life."

-- Damon is now minus one wife... -- 4. Ira Fields: Los Angeles, California This is a letter written in 1994 by the lady that used to sell Pau d'Arco tea from her home in Los Angeles. Ira and her husband operated the business for over 10 years. It was a very small enterprise with no advertising and had a very small volume of business: My classmates sister in Chicago had a bad case of Breast Cancer. She had endured chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Her lungs were scarred since radiation was given on her affected breast. The ulcer was so large at that area that you could almost put your fist into that hole and had so much pus draining, it caused an odor that was extremely repulsive. As

frequently as I could, I mailed the Pau d'Arco tea that I made over at the store. It took almost 6 months for the ulcer to heal. The doctor kept asking her what she was doing to make it heal, but she wouldn't tell him that she was drinking the Pau d'Arco tea that I made for her. (That ulcer was not suppose to heal - Cancer) She returned to work as a nurses aide at the hospital emergency room. (Chicago has severe weather) She later caught a cold which turned into pneumonia which killed her. The autopsy showed NO trace of cancer cells. Although a registered nurse, she wouldn't admit that she took the herbal tea to heal her breast cancer ulcer. -- God Bless Ira and Roy Fields! -- 5. Louise

Tenney: A Trilogy This is three testimonials taken from an old publication called "Pau d'Arco" written by Louise Tenney which has been widely disseminated. One woman in Utah who has been suffering with cancer for over a year, started taking the tea and found relief within a twenty four hour period. She said this was the first time she had felt human in months. She continues to take the tea daily and after several weeks is free from pain. It is too soon to know what benefit it is toward eliminating her cancer, but if she can get relief from her pain without taking drugs I am sure that she will always be grateful. I spoke to a man in Florida who has used the herb, Pau d'Arco, for several months. He was diagnosed as having prostate cancer and had suffered with it for over a year. He told me that he used the herb for thirteen days and noticed a feeling of well-being, but when he really

noticed the benefits of the herb was when he stopped eating white sugar products and started taking vitamins and minerals along with his tea. It was then only fifteen days that he really noticed a change in his health. When I spoke to him in March, 1982 he told me that he was told by his doctors that his cancer is completely gone. A man from Illinois had suffered from a gum disease called Pyorrhea which caused him a great deal of pain that usually developed into an abscess which meant a trip to the dentist where he lanced and drained the abscess and put him on antibiotics. He was really worried because Pyorrhea ends up in loose teeth which usually ends up having to pull the teeth. This man came across Pau d'Arco in November, 1981 and after using it for twenty-four hours found amazing results. The pain subsided, the swelling went down and the pus pocket was gone. He was then convinced of

the value of Pau d'Arco and was no doubt thrilled to have been able to save his teeth. -- 6. Diane Z...: Fredericksburg, Virginia This is a recent E-mail that I received from a customer that I had sent a free sample to last June. She had ordered another five pounds of Pau d'Arco tea in September without comment. It's been about 5 months now and I need to order some more tea. I don't know if you have my credit card number still on file or if you would rather I go through the internet I will. I need another 5 pounds please. Miraculously my husband has been improving each month. Back in Oct. the Dr. told him he was getting weaker each time he saw him and to start making final arrangments. He was determined that wasn't going to happen and he had already been drinking the tea for about 3

weeks. After a couple more weeks, all of a sudden, he started looking and feeling better and each time he goes for an appt., the Dr. expresses how surprised he is that he had fooled them. It's fun to prove Drs. wrong. Everyone we know comments on how much better my husband looks now. The tumors have shrunk way down. His stomach used to protrude way out and now it's back to normal size. His liver had started to show deterioration and now it's functioning fine. I am truly amazed. I am so grateful to you for offering such a wonderful product and I thank you and so does my husband. He faithfully drinks the tea and it's such a habit now that he makes his own batch every day and looks forward to having his few cupfuls. It's reassuring to know there's something out there to try when all else fails. Bless you, Diane Z...

-- 7. Leeanne & Roger Buwa: Mishawaka, Indiana This couple have been using the tea for quite a while now. Roger Buwa stuck with his commitment to drinking the tea and his effort paid off with the best results. I am writing to let you know Roger went to the doctor today and the doctor examined him and told him he felt no tumor. We are so excited and thankful to you for providing us with the tea. I know the tea helped the tumor to disappear. We got the 2 pounds of tea yesterday. Roger is drinking the 8 glasses a day. I just wanted to write and let you know the tea is working on his prostate cancer. I hope you will use our testimony for other men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The tea is a miracle. Thank you again for helping us celebrate Rogers miracle... God Bless, Leeanne and Roger Buwa

-- 8. Roger DeLong: El Cariso Village, California This is my personal experience... In early 2000 I became concerned about a sore between my eyes, on the bridge of my nose. The small sore did not heal for over two months and I started to worry. I went to the Cancer Clinic in Las Vegas and a biopsy was performed. The diagnosis was a malignant basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer). I wasn't drinking the Pau d'Arco tea at the time because I thought that I was immune to cancer. There had been no history of anyone in my genetic line having cancer. I was wrong! I immediately started drinking 3-4 glasses of Pau d'Arco tea every day. The cancer disappeared in exactly two months. I now drink two glasses of the tea each day as a preventative. I have never felt healthier and have no fear of the

cancer returning. - I get several remarkable emails and telephone calls each month relating to the amazing curing powers of Pau d'Arco Tea. I keep a folder of these heartwarming stories and mention some of them in my newsletters._________________JoAnn Guest mrsjo- DietaryTi- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes Please pass this message or article on to someone else so that they may learn also.Community Newsletters.http://www.alternative-medicine-newsletter.infoCommunity Message Boards.http://www.alternative-medicine-message-boards.info"Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts

are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world." - Linus PaulingGetting well is done one step at a time, day by day, building health and well being..list or archives: :........ - post:............. alternative_Medicine_Forum digest form:...... -digest individual emails: -normal no email:......... -nomail moderator:........ -owner unsubscribe:...... -

October 17, 2004

Good article, Kel, thanks! I'm going to get me some of this tea. The article says how it has been used to treat lupus. Amelia

sentto-12621366-582-1098022897-ameliagerlach=hotsheet.com [sentto-12621366-582-1098022897-ameliagerlach=hotsheet.com] On Behalf Of Kelly WortkoetterSunday, October 17, 2004 10:22 AM Subject: Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)

JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote: From: "JoAnn Guest" Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:02:43 -0000 Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco)JoAnn Guest Oct 15, 2004 21:55 PDT Ancient Herb, Modern Miracle(Lapacho,Taheebo,Pau d Arco) Dr. Daniel B. Mowry, PhD. This pamphlet attempts to explain the meaning behind the stack of research that has been published concerning the anti-cancer, antiviral and other properties of the South American herb known as Lapacho.While a much larger volume could be written about the empirical data that has been collected around the world on the almost unbelievable properties of this plant, my chief concern is with the experimental, medical and clinical data that bears a more certain scientific aura. Into the Light One of the last great, but largely untapped, reserves of natural resources on the face of the earth is South America. The herbal medicines that abound on this continent have been largely denied to the rest of the world; the inaccessibility of the great forests, combined with a general lack of interest, have kept the secrets of the region shrouded in darkness. Africa is a continent of light by contrast. Lapacho (Tabebuia Avellandedae, & T. Impetiginosa) comes from the rain forests and mountains of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. We have known about this plant for almost 100 years, yet efforts to import medicinally active lapacho have failed more than they have succeeded.In spite of the difficulties, the interest remains extremely high, because this plant holds great promise for the effective treatment of cancers, candida and other troublesome infections, debilitating diseases (including arthritis), as well as a host of other complaints. Anyone familiar with the recurring ginseng and goldenseal fiascos will appreciate the similar state of affairs that exists in the business of lapacho. In fact the chances of obtaining good quality ginseng and goldenseal in American health food stores are greater than the odds of obtaining good quality lapacho. A vast majority of commercial lapacho is void of significant activity. The reason is primarily lack of quality control at every stage of the enterprise; gatherers, unaware as to which parts of the plant contain the active material, harvest all parts of the plant; curers, unaware of the traditional lapacho curing practices, make assumptions that are more often wrong than right; shippers pay little attention to protecting the material from the hazards of transportation; manufacturers, unaware of what constitutes really good lapacho (having never bothered to go to South America and have a look), don't have any idea how to set up quality control or standardization practices that guarantee activity. You must exercise extraordinary care in your purchases of lapacho, and buy only when you have ascertained the expertise of the manufacturer. Generally speaking, the best lapacho will be obtained from manufacturers specializing in this herb. DESCRIPTION Lapacho is an evergreen tree, with rosy colored flowers, belonging to the Bignonia family. Nearly 100 species of lapacho trees are known, but only a few of these yield high quality material, and it takes extremely skilled gatherers to tell the difference. The medicinal part of the tree is the bark, specifically the inner lining of the bark, called the phloem (pronounced floam). The use of whole bark, containing the dead wood, naturally dilutes the activity of the material. Lapacho is also known by the Portuguese name of Pau D'Arco, and by tribal names such as Taheebo and Ipe Roxo. Some texts distinguish between Lapacho colorado (red lapacho-ipe roxo) (scarlet flowers) and Lapacho morado (purple lapacho) which grows in cooler climates such as high in the Andes, and high places in Paraguay.Recent evidence suggests that these two varieties of lapacho possess superior medicinal properties, with a slight bow going to the purple as the best of all. CONSTITUENTS Most of the chemical analyses of lapacho have been performed on the heartwood of the tree, rather than on the phloem, or inner lining of the bark, which is used medicinally. It is unclear why this has occurred. One reason may be that the heartwood contains enough quantities of a couple of important constituents, mainly lapachol and tabebuin, to satisfy current research interests. Once the therapeutic activity of those constituents has been thoroughly investigated, perhaps researchers will turn their attention to the phloem. Until then, it is probably safe to assume that the living bark contains a similar set of active constituents as the heartwood plus some others that make it more effective and would account for the living bark's greater popularity as a folk medicine. Traditionally, as anyone who chooses to examine the herbal literature of the world can verify, it is the living bark of a plant, especially a tree or shrub, that is used medicinally--not the heartwood. The reason is simple: the nutrients and representative families of chemical substances used to sustain the life of the tree are found in greatest concentration in the cambium layer and phloem of the living bark. The life processes of a mature tree are carried out in the thin corridor lying between the outer bark and the inner heartwood. Pull the bark off a tree and you will notice moist, very thin layers of tissue that seem to shred when picked at with the hands. This is the cambium layer. Its purpose is to create new tree tissues, such as phloem, through cell division. The newest, youngest phloem cells are just outside the cambium. As new phloem is added, older cells are crushed and pressed into the bark.Younger, newer cells added to the inside of the cambium layer are called xylem. Newer xylem is called sapwood; older xylem is crushed and pressed into the heart of the tree. It is therfore known as heartwood. The actively conducting tissues of a tree are the thin layers of fresh xylem and phloem on each side of the cambium. The outer bark and heartwood are, essentially, inactive materials that only serve to provide strength to the tree. Indiscriminate combining of older, less active layers of bark and tree with the younger, living tissues results in a dramatic dilution of active principle and medicinal value. Yet it is a common practice. Lapachol is just one of a number of plant substances known as napthaquinones (N-factors) that occur in lapacho. Anthraquinones, or A-factors, comprise another important class of compounds. The N-factors are not common except in herbal tonics. Seldom do both N- and A-factors occur in the same species. Several of the remarkable properties of lapacho may be due to a probable synergy between A- and N- factors. Quercitin, xloidone and other flavonoids are also present in lapacho; these undoubtedly contribute to the plant's effectiveness in the treatment of tumors and infections. FOLKLORE The native Indians of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and other South American countries have used lapacho for medicinal purposes for thousands of years; there are indications that its use may actually ante-date the Incas. Before the advent of the Spanish, the Guarani and Tupi-Nambo tribes, in particular, used great quantities of lapacho tea. In the high Andes, the Callawaya, the Quechua, Aymara and other tribes used lapacho ("taheebo" to them) for many complaints. Lapacho is applied externally and internally for the treatment of fevers, infections, colds, flu, syphilis, cancer, respiratory problems, skin ulcerations and boils, dysentery, gastro-intestinal problems of all kinds, debilitating conditions such as arthritis and prostatitis, and circulation disturbances., Other conditions have reportedly been cured with lapacho including lupus, diabetes, Hodgkins disease, osteomyelitis, Parkinson's disease, and psoriasis. It is used to relieve pain, kill germs, increase the flow of urine, and even as an antidote to poisons.Its use in many ways parallels that of the immuno-stimulants echinacea on this continent and ginseng in Asia, except that its action appears to exceed them both in terms of its potential as a cancer treatment.The Guarani, Tupi and other tribes called the lapacho tree "Tajy," meaning "to have strength and vigor," or simply, "The Divine Tree." Modern Guarani Indians prefer the purple lapacho, but also use the red lapacho. And they use only the inner lining of the bark. The use of lapacho may not be limited to tropical countries. A Yugoslavian scientist, Voislav Todorovic, claims that he has found evidence that the plant was used by the Vikings and the Russians. He also claims that a Russian chemist (in the late 1800's) manufactured a toothpaste that contained lapacho that was supposed to have been extremely effective in preventing tooth decay. EARLY SCIENTIFIC WORK Research on lapacho has been going on for a long time. E. Paterno isolated the active constituent, lapachol, in 1884. Inn 1896, S.C. Hooker established the chemical structure of lapachol, and L.F. Fieser synthesized the substance in 1927! So it would be a mistake to call lapacho a modern discovery. As early as 1873, physicians were aware of the healing action of lapacho. Dr. Joaquin Almeida Pinto wrote during that year, "Pau D'Arco: Medicinal Properties: prescribed as a fever-reducer; the bark is used against ulcers; also used for venereal and rheumatic disorders and especially useful for skin disorders, especially eczema, herpes and the mange". Another early physician, Dr. Walter Accorsi, reported that lapacho, "eliminated the pains caused by the disease (cancer) and multiplies the body's production of red corpuscles." However, the science of lapacho began properly with the work of Theodoro Meyer in Argentina who tried for decades with little success to convince the medical world of the value of lapacho for infections and cancer. Data from his laboratory are astounding in terms of the success rate observed when applying the herb in dozens of different kinds of cancer. Much of Meyer's work was primitive by modern research standards; most of it lacked adequate controls and statistical evaluation. But the sheer bulk of it is good evidence for the efficacy of lapacho. The Meyer era ended at his death in 1972, with the scientific world left still largely unconvinced of the usefulness of lapacho as a modern medicinal agent. Perhaps the most important thing Meyer accomplished, from a scientific point of view, was to bring lapacho to the attention of the rest of world, to extract the plant from the jungles of the Amazon, and announce, "Here is a folk remedy with great promise for all mankind." Independent of Meyer, a physician in Brazil, about 1960, after hearing a tale of its miraculous curative powers, used lapacho to treat his brother who was lying in a Santo Andre, Brazil hospital, dying of cancer. His brother recovered, and the physician, Dr. Orlando dei Santi, began to use the herb to treat other cancer patients at the hospital. Other physicians joined the team, and after a few months, several case histories of cures were recorded. In the typical case, pain disappeared rapidly and sometimes complete remission was achieved in as little as four weeks. Because of the work at the Municipal Hospital of Santo Andre, lapacho has become a standard form of treatment for some kinds of cancer and for all kinds of infections in medical establishments throughout Brazil. It should be noted that after the first reports of "miraculous" herbal cures appeared in Brazil, the national government ordered a blackout of any more public statements by doctors involved in the research. The silence was finally broken by Alec De Montmorency, who in 1981 published a lengthy review of the ongoing clinical work in Brazil. This report succeeded in stimulating worldwide interest in the plant. In 1968, Dr. Prats Ruiz of Concepcion, Argentina, successfully treated three cases of leukemia in his private clinic. Some of these results were widely published and also helped to establish the popularity of lapacho among the "civilized" inhabitants of South American countries. American physicians, of course, tend to look disparagingly upon the clinical evidence from backward areas of South America, preferring instead sanitized evidence from their own brightly lit laboratories. The weight of the South American clinical evidence has not been sufficient to cause widespread acceptance of the treatment outside South America, but it has stimulated research interest abroad. Pharmaceutical companies regularly screen lapacho for the presence of substances that could be the basis for new drug applications. As we shall see, however, no isolated component of lapacho comes anywhere close to being equal to the combined activity of all constituents, or, in other words, to the whole herb. Drug Detox Observations. A common thread that runs throughout early and current empirical and clinical reports of lapacho treatment is the consistent observation that the herb eliminates many of the common side effects of the orthodox medications. There is no explanation of this action, but it is so often seen that one cannot easily doubt its validity. Pain, hair loss and immune dysfunction are among the symptoms most commonly eliminated. MODERN INVESTIGATIVE WORK While scientific research on lapacho has been going on for decades, most of it is worthless from a medicinal point of view. Some of it, however, is very good, and has resulted in the isolation of several individual medicinally active constituents and in the analysis of their properties. The current interest in AIDS has stimulated renewed interest in lapacho since the herb is such an effective anti-viral substance. The main problem with American research on the plant is the tunnel-vision with which the work is engaged. Without any understanding of the ultimate source of the plant's effectiveness, researchers routinely isolate what they think should be the active component and apply it in standard screening trials. The results of such research are sometimes positive, sometimes negative, sometimes strong, sometimes weak--always inadequate, by definition. It didn't surprise anyone that the trials performed by the National Cancer Institute were less than convincing. And it also didn't surprise anyone when that same institute rejected out-of-hand the highly positive results obtained by many non-American researchers who utilized different methods. The self-serving tendency of the American medical/regulatory establishment to accept only its own research is indulged by the rest of the world's scientific community with polite and somewhat amused patience, as they wait for America to grow up. The following is a summary of some of the effects of lapacho and/or any of its constituents that have been validated by modern research: 1. Laxative effect. Regular use of lapacho will maintain regularity of bowel movements. This property is undoubtedly due to the presence of the napthaquinones and anthraquinones. Users of lapacho universally report a pleasant and moderate loosening of the bowels that leads to greater regularity without any unpleasant side-effects such as diarrhea. 2. Anti-cancer effect. The greater part of the basic research on lapacho, both in the United States and in other countries has dealt directly with the cancer question. Obviously, this issue is of great importance. Any tendency of lapacho to ameliorate the course of cancer should be made known to all persons likely to benefit from it. The absence of side effects makes lapacho a treatment of choice even in conjunction with standard forms of therapy. The user has nothing to lose and much to gain from the judicious use of lapacho. Naturally, any and all treatment of a cancerous condition should be done under the supervision of a qualified physician. Some constituents or groups of constituents of lapacho have indeed been found to suppress tumor formation and reduce tumor viability, both in experimental animal trials and in clinical settings involving human patients. In addition, anecdotal data abounds to such an extent that to overlook its importance is to turn one's back on a potentially invaluable source of aid and health. Leukemia has proven particularly susceptible to the application of lapacho and several of its constituents. Some researchers feel that lapachol is one of the most important anti-tumor agents in the entire world. "I had a large tumor in my brain. Traditional treatment produced only minor success. Then I began to use lapacho tea. After several weeks a CAT scan showed that the tumor was totally gone. The doctors couldn't believe it because they had classified my case as basically untreatable." Part of the effectiveness of lapacho may stem from its observed ability to stimulate the production of red blood cells in bone marrow. Increased red blood cell production would improve the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This, in turn, could have important implications for the health of tissues throughout the body. Also needed for oxygen transport by red cells is iron. This might explain the augmentation in lapacho's therapeutic properties when it is combined with iron-rich yerbamate, another South American plant; in fact, it is native practice to almost always combine these two plant species. 3. Anti-oxidant effect. In vitro trials show definite inhibition of free radicals and inflammatory leukotrienes by lapacho constituents. This property might underlie the effectiveness of lapacho against skin cancer, and definitely helps to explain observed anti-aging effects. Modern science has recently uncovered the importance of free radicals in the generation of many debilitating diseases, from cancer to arthritis. These molecules are even heavily implicated in the normal aging process. Reversing their action has become big business in world health circles. Anti-oxidants, or free-radical scavengers, have emerged as premier candidates for the role of healers and disease-preventers. Among the antioxidants few have greater potency than lapacho and other constituents of lapacho. 4. Analgesic effect. The administration of lapacho is consistently credited in reports issuing from South American clinics as a primary modality for lessening the pain associated with several kinds of cancer, especially cancer of the prostate, liver or breast. Arthritic pain has also been relieved with lapacho ingestion. 5. Antimicrobial/anti-parisiticidal effects. includes inhibition and destruction of gram positive and acid-fast bacteria (B. subtilis, M. pyogenes aureus, etc.), yeasts, fungi, viruses and several kinds of parasites. Two troublesome families of viruses inhibited by lapachol are noteworthy: Herpes viruses and HIV's. Together, these viruses account for much of the misery of mankind. The anti malarial activity of lapacho spawned a great deal of research interest in the early decades of this century. A 1948 article reviewed the progress and indicated that the N-factors, especially lapachol, were among the most promising anti malarial substances known at that time.Lapacho's immunostimulating action is due in part to its rather potent antimicrobial effects. "I began using yerbamate and lapacho tea about 3 mos. ago. I immediately experienced a surge of energy . . . within half-an-hour I was up dancing which is pretty amazing considering I've got MS and spent most of the Spring in a wheelchair. Within 2 days I noticed a lessening of pain and muscle spasms which was fantastic . . . my urinary, bowel and digestive functions have vastly improved . . . There is no doubt that the MS has greatly improved with the herbs as I quit using them for a week and all the old symptoms return. I start the tea again and they subside., I've repeated this scenario three times." 6. Anti-fungal effect. Lapacho is often singled out as the premier treatment for Candida or yeast infections. Lapachol, N-factors and xyloidone appear to be the primary active principles.9/10 By the mid 70's the list of N-factors that inhibited Candida albicans and other fungi had grown to several dozen. It would be misleading to categorically state that the N-factors in lapacho have proven antimicrobial and anti fungal activity in and of themselves. Studies have shown that the manner in which they occur in the plant must be taken into consideration. We know, for example, that anti fungal activitys lost when the N-factors are tightly bound to highly water-soluble or highly fat-soluble groups. It has not been clearly determined how the N-factors occur in lapacho. N-factors, obtainable from various chemical supply companies, have become favorite testing agents in government/university labs due to the rise in yeast infections resulting from increased use of cytotoxic drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressants. An interesting application has been reported in which toe and fingernail fungi infections are relieved by soaking these appendages in lapacho tea off and on for a couple of weeks. 7. Anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory and healing action of lapacho extracts was demonstrated in a study in which purple lapacho extract was administered to patients with cervicitis and cervico-vaginitis, conditions resulting variously from infections (candida albicans, trichomonas vaginalis), chemical irritations and mechanical irritation. The lapacho extract was applied intra-vaginally via gauze tampons soaked in the extract, and renewed every 24 hours. The treatment proved to be highly effective. One wonders what might happen were the tampon method combined with the ingestion of strong teas. The anti-inflammatory action of lapacho might also account for its observed tendency to reduce the pain, inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis. Anecdotal accounts of complete cures are even available. As yet virtually untested in research settings, the purported ability of this plant to reduce symptoms of joint disease may be ultimately validated and added to the growing list of benefits to be enjoyed by the daily ingestion of lapacho tea. "I recently had a violent M.S. attack. I lost my balance, lost vision in my left eye and had excruciating pain in my left leg. I went to bed, took the anti-siezure medication and an analgesic. I drank about 1-1/2 quarts of lapacho and mate. Within 6 hours I was up stuffing turkey. Usually these episodes lay me up for weeks. I am convinced the lapacho and mate made the difference." 8. Other beneficial effects. Routine screenings have revealed several minor properties of lapacho that might occur if needed in certain individuals: diuretic, sedative, decongestant, and hypotensive, to name a few. "I started drinking the red lapacho because I had read a testimonial letter that indicated that its daily use had been effective against the pain of arthritis. I was skeptical to say the least. Prior to drinking the tea I could not stand on a hard surface for more than 5 minutes because the pain was excruciating in my hip . . . Since drinking the red lapacho regularly I have been on my feet for two or three hours without pain. Now the doctor tells me the tissues in my hip are regenerating!" Unfortunately, space limitations preclude a lengthy discussion of all the benefits of lapacho, but some of the major actions listed above require further elaboration as follows. ANTI-VIRAL One of the strongest actions of lapacho is against viruses. The range of viruses inactivated by lapacho extends from those that cause the common cold to those that are responsible for AIDS. It has been shown to actively inhibit, kill or stunt the growth of several dangerous viruses, including herpes virus hominis types I and II, polio virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, avian myeloblastosis virus, rauscho murine leukemia virus, friend virus, and rous sarcoma virus. Several other viruses are also inhibited by lapacho's N- and A-factors. One N-factor, beta-lapachone, inhibits enzymes in virus cells that directly affect the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It is also a potent inhibitor of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, involved in RNA/DNA relationships. Once these processes are inhibited, the virus is unable to take over the reproductive processes of the cell and cannot, therefore, replicate itself and infect other cells. Such inhibition is a characteristic of most substances that are being tested for activity against AIDS and Epstein-Barr. The enzyme in question is a key to the action of retroviruses. These viruses, also known as ribodeoxyviruses or oncornaviruses, have been implicated in the development of several kinds of experimental cancers. Beta-lapachone is obtained simply by treating lapachol with sulfuric acid, and tests show that it has a unique method of action vis-a-vis the reverse transcpritase inhibition. "The yerbamate and red lapacho have made me feel more alert and awake, zesty, and happy, without the harmful side effects of caffeine; (they) increase virility and vigor." Note: Sulfurous compounds in some plants, especially yerbamate, when combined with lapacho might provide a catalytic base for the transformation of lapachol tobeta-lapachone, and hence increase the effectiveness of the lapacho. In this light it is interesting to note that native folklore teaches that yerbamate is a catalyst for lapacho; yerbamate becomes the foundation for lapacho therapy. ANTI PARASITIC Lapacho components have been intensively studied in terms of their action against two rather nasty parasites: Schistosoma mansoni and Trypanosoma cruzi, both responsible for considerable disease and misery in tropical countries. Lapacho was effective against both. Taken by mouth, lapachol is eventually secreted onto the skin via the sebaceous glands where it acts as a topical barrier, inactivating microorganisms soon after they contact the skin. Meanwhile, throughout the G.I tract, it is performing the identical function on the mucous membranes, preventing the penetration of parasites. The mechanism of action is not well understood, but is felt to involve the uncoupling of cellular respiration (see Cellular Mechanics Section), the stimulation of lipid peroxidation and super oxide production, and the inhibition of DNA/RNA biosynthesis. CANCER Lapacho has been extensively investigated for potential anti-cancer activity. Even the National Cancer Institute has gotten in the act, but in their own typical way, they managed to drop the ball before achieving success. They restricted their investigations to lapachol, and once they found that this substance had side effects that offset its potential therapeutic benefits, they abandoned the project. The holistic practitioner readily perceives the fallacy of that approach, and is skeptical of applying isolated herbal constituents. As if in conformation of that skepticism, research that involved whole lapacho has produced clinical anti-cancer effects without side effects. Animal research in the United States made a gigantic stride forward when it was discovered that lapachol inhibited solid tumors (Walker carcinosarcoma 256 and Ehrlich solid carcinoma) and Ehrlich ascites cell tumors. Such research then took a gigantic stride backwards when clinical toxicity of lapachol prematurely ended these investigations. One interesting line of research has shown that lapachol is more effective when ingested orally, rather than injected into the gut or into the muscles. These results contradict a substantial amount of research on orthodox drugs that indicates the superiority of injectable routes. What is the meaning of this anomaly? Could it be a sign that natural routes of administration (i.e., oral) are better suited for natural substances? The further removed from the natural state, the more active substances become when injected directly into the blood stream, and the less able the natural processes of the body are in dealing with them. Using the wood of the plant, several researchers have studied the effects of lapachol, alpha- and beta-lapachone and xyloidone on experimental cancer (Yoshida's sarcoma and Walker 256 carcino-sarcoma). As high as 84% inhibition was observed on Yoshida's sarcoma. And no toxicity was found. In one clinical study, South American researchers administered lapachol to patients with various forms of cancer, including adenocarcinoma of the liver, breast and prostate, and squamous carcinoma of the palate and uterine cervix. Taken orally, the substance resulted in temporary reduction of all conditions and in a significant reduction in pain. Duration of treatment was anywhere from 30 to 720 days, with an average of about two months. For example, one patient with liver cancer presented with a significant reduction in jaundice accompanied by other signs of improvement after eight days of therapy. These results were in close accord with results obtained by the same researchers in animal studies. One wonders what the administration of whole purple lapacho phloem might have accomplished in this setting; other lines of evidence suggest that even better results may have been obtained. "During exploratory surgery it was noted that I had ovarian, stomach, intestine & liver cancer. I was told I had approximately 4 to 6 months to live. I made up my mind to fight. I went for chemotherapy, drank a quart of red lapacho tea, an ounce of aloe vera juice and took various vitamins daily. After 11 mos. the physicians could not believe what they found (no cancer). I continue to have regular check-ups and have proved to be a 'miracle case'." A Note on Nausea: In the human study reported above, some patients dropped out of the experiment due to nausea. This is a common observation in some, but certainly not all, people who begin to experience the cleansing action of lapacho (and other healthful herbs). As toxins (and toxic medicines) and wastes are drawn out of the cells, or flushed out, or physiologically expelled from the cells, through the action of the herb, they tend at times to accumulate in the blood, lymph, lymph nodes, skin, liver and kidneys awaiting the opportunity to be expelled from the body. Backing up, they can, on occasion produce sensations such as nausea; the body may even try to rid itself of some toxic substances by vomiting. Not to worry. These transient signs dissipate once the toxins are moving freely from the body. They are a positive sign that the herb is working. Remember the body only has three basic processes for getting rid of wastes: lower bowel movement, sweating, urinating. The use of lapacho can so overload these processes in the early stages that discomfort may be produced. "My wife was dying of cancer. She has a malignant tumor on her temple. The pain was so intense the doctors wanted to keep her sedated in the hospital until she died. We decided not to give up. For three weeks now she has been drinking purple lapacho tea. The tumor looks much better; it began draining and no longer looks so 'angry.' The pain is much less, and she can get up and move around the house. Our M.D. is impressed! . . . Now we have hope!" CELLULAR MECHANICS Every cell of the body requires oxygen and glucose to obtain energy for life-sustaining functions. The oxygen and glucose are subjected to a fairly complex metabolic process in the tiny energy producing structures in the cell called mitochondria. This process requires numerous enzymes and coenzymes.The oxygen and glucose are converted to carbon dioxide and water which are then returned to the blood. the CO2 is exhaled by the lungs (hence this metabolic process is often called "respiration"); excess water is eventually drawn off through perspiration or through the kidneys. During this conversion, several free electrons are freed up, which are immediately utilized by another pathway to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell--ATP is the molecule every cell is required to utilize, or spend, to obtain energy. The two paths--one for breakdown of glucose, and one for synthesis of ATP--are tightly coupled together. Should they become uncoupled, the cell can no longer obtain energy, and it dies. Such poisoning has acquired the name of "uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation." Many agents have been found that uncouple oxidative phosphorylation; many of them resemble the N-factors in lapacho. In fact, it has been found that lapacho works like other benzoquionones, i.e., it uncouples the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation occurring in cancerous cells, but not in healthy ones. This selective killing (cytotoxicity) of tumor cells is what makes lapacho such a potentially valuable agent for the treatment of cancer. One of the games science plays is attempting to discover at what point cellular respiration is broken up by chemical agents. The components of lapacho seem to interrupt the process at several points, usually by inhibiting an enzyme or coenzyme that is required for the next step in the chain to occur properly. For instance, lapacho inhibits the proper functioning of ATPase, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step in the formation of ATP. Lapachol has also been shown to inhibit the amount of another substance required for cellular reproduction: uridine triphosphate. This molecule is the main source of substances (called pyrimidine nucleotides) that are required by cells in order to build DNA, RNA and most other important proteins of the body. Lapacho may actually block the syntheses of pyrimidines in cancer cells (by inhibiting the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase). The result would be certain cellular death. There is also evidence that lapachol interacts directly with the nucleic acids of the DNA helix in cancerous cells. If such interaction, or bonding, takes place then DNA replication would be impossible. The result is also eventual death of the cell. Finally, lapacho constituent beta-lapachone has been shown to weaken malignant cells, even to the point of cellular death, by stimulating a process known as lipid peroxidation, which produces toxic molecules. P> TOXICITY While there can be no doubt that lapacho is very toxic to many kinds of cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and other kinds of microorganisms, the substance appears to be without any kind of significant toxicity to healthy human cells. The side-effects mainly encountered, and usually with isolated lapacho constituents, are limited to nausea and anticoagulant effects in very high doses, a tendency to loosen the bowels, and diarrhea in very high doses. As indicated earlier, some nausea should be expected as a natural consequence of the detoxification process. The FDA gave lapacho a clean bill of health in 1981. Some trials have indicated that lapachol has anti-vitamin K action. Other constituents have a pro-vitamain K action; it is likely, therefore, that the two actions cancel each other out (except possibly when one or the other is necessary--as one would expect from an herbal tonic). Perhaps the most significant study on toxicity was published in 1970 by researchers from the Chase Pfizer & Co., Inc. Looking specifically at lapachol, these investigators found that all signs of lapachol toxicity in animals were completely reversible and even self limiting, i.e., over time the signs of toxicity decreased and even disappeared within the time constraints of the study. The most severe kinds of self-limiting side-effects they observed were an anti-vitamin K effect, anemia, and significant rises of metabolic and protein toxins in the blood stream. The diminution of these signs indicates that lapacho initiates an immediate "alterative" or "detoxification" effect on the body's cells. Once the cells are "cleaned up," the signs of toxicity disappear. This effect is quite common among herbal tonics. HOW MUCH AND WHEN Lapacho can be used periodically as a preventative during colds and flu season, or whenever the chances for infections are high. Experience has taught that lapacho is best ingested as a tea, one or two cups a day, morning and evening. Used in this fashion, it promotes the health of the immune system, helps prevent the onset of colds and flus, keeps the bowel healthy and may impart some of the other important therapeutic effects, including a positive effect on arthritis, pain, localized infection (e.g. candida) and systemic infection. During periods of acute, active infection, lapacho should be administered several times a day in tea form. It is up to the individual to determine the optimum amount for him or her. It is not uncommon for a person's awareness of his or her personal health needs and requirements to increase dramatically when turning to a health-oriented, herbal approach. "I was bitten by a brown recluse spider, but didn't know it for 3 days; it was finally diagnosed in an emergency room when the pain and swelling got so bad I couldn't take it any longer. An ointment was prescribed, but I used instead a compress made of two tea bags of lapacho, changed often. Relief was almost immediate. And, after 3 days, the doctor was amazed by the fact that all swelling and pain had disappeared, and new, healthy, tissue was growing back rapidly." One of the best ways to ingest lapacho is in tea form, either with tea bags, or in a loosely cut and sifted, or "bulk" form. Using bulk presents problems of filtering out the fiber. The use of the South American "bombilla," a metal straw with a filter on one end, normally used for drinking yerbamate, neatly solves this problem. Capsules are also available, but are not nearly as effective as the tea. One of the most intriguing routes of administration is the recent introduction to the marketplace of a mist that is simply sprayed into the mouth and rapidly absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It is highly recommended by this author as well as folklore wisdom that lapacho be routinely combined with yerbamate. The reasoning, based on centuries of experience in these matters by South American natives, is that the yerbamate has an activating effect on the actions of lapacho. Yerbamate, of course, imparts a good deal of medicinal action itself, as discussed in my booklet: "YerbaMate: Unequaled Natural Nutrition." CONCLUSION Throughout the width and breadth of the earth there exist plants with the amazing ability to cure and prevent the ills of mankind when used with wisdom. They grow and blossom and concentrate valuable healing nutrients within their tissues. It is the obligation of animals and people to discover these properties and utilize them in the manner intended by the governing and organizing principles of nature.The search does not begin nor end in a research laboratory. It begins with the experimentation of simple people living close to the earth, who invest nothing in their search save the desire to live healthy, prevent sickness and cure disease. It ends when the rest of the world accepts knowledge so gained, and incorporates it into their own health system. The need for scientific examination results in the accumulation of interesting and sometimes useful data; at its best it opens new avenues for effective application of the wisdom of the ancients.At its worst, it asks the wrong questions, obtains the wrong answers, becomes puffed up by its own importance, and gets in the way of man's quest for the discovery of nature's healing gifts. Science and folklore need not clash. When they do, it is usually because the wrong questions were asked, the wrong answers obtained, the wrong materials examined, the wrong people involved. Lapacho currently finds itself in the middle of worldwide confusion. As data showing the efficacy of lapacho accumulates in some areas of the world, other areas continue to ignore basic sources of information; data gathered in such a vacuum disappoints the mind and obstructs progress. We prefer to believe that lapacho, given enough time, will emerge into the full light of day, even from the dark and muddling laboratories of the United States, and will take its rightful place as one of the great healing herbs of the world. We prefer to believe that until then the herb will be immune to the dealings of dim and uninspired regulatory proceedings on bright continents. We prefer to believe that, in the end, the millions of lapacho users will prevail. Note on the Text The material appearing in italic with quotation marks around it, throughout this report, was taken from actual letters in my files. Where necessary, the generic term "lapacho" was used in place of brand names. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Mowry is known primarily for his efforts to bring scientific data about herbal medicine to the attention of the American public. Toward this end he has published the books entitled the Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, and Guaranteed Potency Herbs: Next Generation Herbal Medicine, which have become standard texts in the field. Dr. Mowry is Director of the Mountainwest Institute of Herbal Sciences, in Salt Lake City, Utah. -------------------------------- PAU D'ARCO CLINICAL TESTS -------------------------------Clinical Laboratory Studies Show Cancer Cell Destruction This article will summarise the results of clinical research studies conducted by the company, "Taheebo Japan Co., Ltd." located in Osaka, Japan. Clinical laboratory tests were conducted at Tokyo University and other profession medical laboratories which culminated in the issuance of United States Patent Number 5,663,197 on September 2, 1997. -- Taheebo Japan then produced and marketed a substance called "NFD" which they marketed as a tea product and priced the product at $280.00(US) per pound. -- This patent proves that constituents extracted from the Tabebuia Avellanedae (Pau d'Arco) tree bark "remarkably inhibits the growth" and "exhibits selective toxicity" of 23 specific types of cancer cells. The compound also "was found to inhibit the growth almost completely" and "cause necrosis (death)" in 12 specific types of malignant cancer tumors. ---Here are the 23 different types of cancer cells listed in the study: Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A-549 Cells Human Lung Adenocarcinoma VMRC-LCD Human Lung Adenocarcinoma SK-LU-1 Human Lung Squamous Carcinoma Human Colon Adenocarcinoma WiDr Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma A-431 Human Cervical Carcinoma HeLa Human Cholangiocarcinoma HuCC-T1 Mouse Melanima B16 (M4) Human Malignant B-Cell Lymphoma Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K-562 Human Pancreatic Carcinoma ASPC-1 Human Neuroblastoma IMR-132 Human Urinary Bladder Carcinoma T24 Human Renal Cell Carcinoma VMRC-RCW Human Gastric Cancer NUGC-2 Human Thyroid Carcinoma 8305C Human Breast Cancer MRK-nu-1 Human Hepatoma HUH-7 Human Ovarian Carcinoma TYK-nu Human Chorio Carcinoma BeWo --Here are the 12 different types of malignant tumors listed: 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 Chorio Carcinoma -- This patent was approved and obtained on the results of scientific laboratory research studies. This study does not make any claims as to the results that may be attained when using the "NFD" product as a herbal remedy for cancer. Human research studies have not been done to date. Why haven't human research studies on such a promising herbal remedy been accomplished? We can only speculate... Also, this study used only three of the constituents from the Pau d'Arco tree bark. There are over 30 different identified constituents that reside in this remarkable herb. As stated in Walter Lubeck's book, "The Healing Power of Pau d'Arco", "There wasn't just one individual "miracle active ingredient" in Pau D'Arco responsible for all the good results. Its extensive healing power originates in the totality of the substances contained within this plant, which we are completely justified in calling unique, and their fortunate balanced state and harmonious combination with each other. Because of the fantastic composition of the active ingredients, even the smallest amounts of the individual active ingredients can make a decisive contribution to processes like the inhibition of tumor growth.If the components are used in an isolated manner, much of their healing power disappears and the excellent tolerance and harmonious effect of the tea is often lost. Medical experts speculate with me that Pau d'Arco tea, in its natural state, is more effective than any form of a "processed" product. ---Click here to view U. S. Patent No. 5,663,197 ---PAU D'ARCO TEA TESTIMONIALS AND TRUE STORIES -- The original letter that tweeked my interest in the tea was written in February of 1991. My life long friend in El Cajon, California showed me this letter from his childhood teacher living in Rock Springs, Wyoming, written a year after her start in taking Pau D'Arco tea: 1. Dorothy Conley: Rock Springs, Wyoming This Thanksgiving I am thankful for "You". I have planned this surprise for sometime because I had longed to write you for so long... ... So now I want you to know I am sending my love and deepest appreciation for the special way you have touched me in my hour of need. When a Dr. (4 Drs.opinions) sends you home to die and say can have as little as one week to live, our priorities begin to spin! My 1st challenge was acceptance followed by an attitude and faith (in big doses)... ...Our priorities begin to juggle around real fast and the important things in life are our relationship with the Lord, our family & friends. These are truly God's richest blessings. I hope that I have become a better person because of my experience and your help through the "Big C" struggle. I try to "Reach Out" daily to cheer or find someone hurting and hoping to make up in my small way what others have given to me, as you carried me through the lonely days. I don't have time & I am too happy to dwell on the bad days. The million blessings easily overpower. These come from you, my pastor, and the Pau D'Arco Tea which has been regularly shipped free from my dear friend Earl Anderson. What a friend! "Today" -I feel great!- I have been given 365 days with 24 hours in each to use as I will. I don't know about tomorrow as none of us do, but today is GOOD! I have been asked to talk to High School Group and I will teach them to pray, forgive & love and to "Fight for a Miracle" because we never walk alone. -- In 1994, Dorothy Conley, with her son and daughter, drove from Rock Springs to El Cajon to thank Mr. Anderson in person ...for saving her life... -- 2. Wally Nilson: El Cariso Village, California This is the story of Wally, my neighbor, who lives over the hill near my residence in El Cariso Village: Several years ago I noticed my absentee neighbor, Marcel, was sitting up by his barn on the property next to mine. He was sitting with a friend enjoying the sunny day and chatting with his long time acquaintance. I drove up the road to say "Hello" as I always did when I saw him on his infrequent visits to the undeveloped property that he purchased many years ago. He was sitting with Wally, our neighbor, who has operated his heavy equipement business for too many years to recall. I knew Wally and had used his services to clear portions of my property from time to time. I was shocked to see Wally in the decimated condition that he was. It was obvious to me that Wally was near death. He had been diagnosed to die within four months. I immediately rushed back to my house where I always keep a few pounds of Pau D'Arco Tea and gave a pound to Wally, with instructions on where to buy some more from the "Mom & Pop" business in Los Angeles. One day, about three months later, I listened to a message from Wally on my telephone recorder. Wally stated "Hey Rog, I just wanted to thank you for the tea. I couldn't drink much everyday because most of my digestive system had been removed as the result of my cancer. I drank as much as I could and now there is nothing wrong with me. The cancer is completely gone!" -- Wally is now an enthusiastic supporter of Pau D'Arco Tea and is never without his bottle of Pau D'Arco and Green tea. -- 3. Damon Waitley: Kailua Kona, Hawaii This is the story of one of my best friends. Our careers as pilots with the airlines started in early 1968: Approximately two years ago my good buddy, Damon, had told me that he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his prostate gland. This was not too surprising since the ailment had a history in his family. His father had it as well as his older brother. Damon was interested in using Pau D'Arco Tea to see if it had an effect on his malady. I gave him some of the tea and he drank it daily as suggested. When the biopsy was performed he had a PSA count (a preliminary procedure to analyze a potential problem in the prostate) of 8.6 indicating that he had a serious problem with his prostate. Damon called me approximately 2 1/2 months later to tell me of the results of drinking the tea. His PSA count had dropped from 8.6 to a count of 0.8! I've never heard of a PSA count that low! The operation (removal of his prostate gland) was scheduled within days. I begged him to postpone the operation since it was so intrusive and with no recourse. His wife and doctor ($$$) were putting pressure on him to proceed as scheduled. Damon has always been influenced by the people around him. He is a true romantic. He loves people and wants to please them in any fashion. This was his downfall... The operation proceeded as scheduled. Damon called me shortly thereafter and told me of his experience. He stated "Rog, that was the biggest mistake that I have ever made in my life. I regreted the decision the day after I was operated on. Now, I have to live with that decision the rest of my life." -- Damon is now minus one wife... -- 4. Ira Fields: Los Angeles, California This is a letter written in 1994 by the lady that used to sell Pau d'Arco tea from her home in Los Angeles. Ira and her husband operated the business for over 10 years. It was a very small enterprise with no advertising and had a very small volume of business: My classmates sister in Chicago had a bad case of Breast Cancer. She had endured chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Her lungs were scarred since radiation was given on her affected breast. The ulcer was so large at that area that you could almost put your fist into that hole and had so much pus draining, it caused an odor that was extremely repulsive. As frequently as I could, I mailed the Pau d'Arco tea that I made over at the store. It took almost 6 months for the ulcer to heal. The doctor kept asking her what she was doing to make it heal, but she wouldn't tell him that she was drinking the Pau d'Arco tea that I made for her. (That ulcer was not suppose to heal - Cancer) She returned to work as a nurses aide at the hospital emergency room. (Chicago has severe weather) She later caught a cold which turned into pneumonia which killed her. The autopsy showed NO trace of cancer cells. Although a registered nurse, she wouldn't admit that she took the herbal tea to heal her breast cancer ulcer. -- God Bless Ira and Roy Fields! -- 5. Louise Tenney: A Trilogy This is three testimonials taken from an old publication called "Pau d'Arco" written by Louise Tenney which has been widely disseminated. One woman in Utah who has been suffering with cancer for over a year, started taking the tea and found relief within a twenty four hour period. She said this was the first time she had felt human in months. She continues to take the tea daily and after several weeks is free from pain. It is too soon to know what benefit it is toward eliminating her cancer, but if she can get relief from her pain without taking drugs I am sure that she will always be grateful. I spoke to a man in Florida who has used the herb, Pau d'Arco, for several months. He was diagnosed as having prostate cancer and had suffered with it for over a year. He told me that he used the herb for thirteen days and noticed a feeling of well-being, but when he really noticed the benefits of the herb was when he stopped eating white sugar products and started taking vitamins and minerals along with his tea. It was then only fifteen days that he really noticed a change in his health. When I spoke to him in March, 1982 he told me that he was told by his doctors that his cancer is completely gone. A man from Illinois had suffered from a gum disease called Pyorrhea which caused him a great deal of pain that usually developed into an abscess which meant a trip to the dentist where he lanced and drained the abscess and put him on antibiotics. He was really worried because Pyorrhea ends up in loose teeth which usually ends up having to pull the teeth. This man came across Pau d'Arco in November, 1981 and after using it for twenty-four hours found amazing results. The pain subsided, the swelling went down and the pus pocket was gone. He was then convinced of the value of Pau d'Arco and was no doubt thrilled to have been able to save his teeth. -- 6. Diane Z...: Fredericksburg, Virginia This is a recent E-mail that I received from a customer that I had sent a free sample to last June. She had ordered another five pounds of Pau d'Arco tea in September without comment. It's been about 5 months now and I need to order some more tea. I don't know if you have my credit card number still on file or if you would rather I go through the internet I will. I need another 5 pounds please. Miraculously my husband has been improving each month. Back in Oct. the Dr. told him he was getting weaker each time he saw him and to start making final arrangments. He was determined that wasn't going to happen and he had already been drinking the tea for about 3 weeks. After a couple more weeks, all of a sudden, he started looking and feeling better and each time he goes for an appt., the Dr. expresses how surprised he is that he had fooled them. It's fun to prove Drs. wrong. Everyone we know comments on how much better my husband looks now. The tumors have shrunk way down. His stomach used to protrude way out and now it's back to normal size. His liver had started to show deterioration and now it's functioning fine. I am truly amazed. I am so grateful to you for offering such a wonderful product and I thank you and so does my husband. He faithfully drinks the tea and it's such a habit now that he makes his own batch every day and looks forward to having his few cupfuls. It's reassuring to know there's something out there to try when all else fails. Bless you, Diane Z... -- 7. Leeanne & Roger Buwa: Mishawaka, Indiana This couple have been using the tea for quite a while now. Roger Buwa stuck with his commitment to drinking the tea and his effort paid off with the best results. I am writing to let you know Roger went to the doctor today and the doctor examined him and told him he felt no tumor. We are so excited and thankful to you for providing us with the tea. I know the tea helped the tumor to disappear. We got the 2 pounds of tea yesterday. Roger is drinking the 8 glasses a day. I just wanted to write and let you know the tea is working on his prostate cancer. I hope you will use our testimony for other men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The tea is a miracle. Thank you again for helping us celebrate Rogers miracle... God Bless, Leeanne and Roger Buwa -- 8. Roger DeLong: El Cariso Village, California This is my personal experience... In early 2000 I became concerned about a sore between my eyes, on the bridge of my nose. The small sore did not heal for over two months and I started to worry. I went to the Cancer Clinic in Las Vegas and a biopsy was performed. The diagnosis was a malignant basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer). I wasn't drinking the Pau d'Arco tea at the time because I thought that I was immune to cancer. There had been no history of anyone in my genetic line having cancer. I was wrong! I immediately started drinking 3-4 glasses of Pau d'Arco tea every day. The cancer disappeared in exactly two months. I now drink two glasses of the tea each day as a preventative. I have never felt healthier and have no fear of the cancer returning. - I get several remarkable emails and telephone calls each month relating to the amazing curing powers of Pau d'Arco Tea. I keep a folder of these heartwarming stories and mention some of them in my newsletters._________________JoAnn Guest mrsjo- DietaryTi- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes Please pass this message or article on to someone else so that they may learn also.Community Newsletters.http://www.alternative-medicine-newsletter.infoCommunity Message Boards.http://www.alternative-medicine-message-boards.info"Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world." - Linus PaulingGetting well is done one step at a time, day by day, building health and well being..list or archives: :........ - post:............. alternative_Medicine_Forum digest form:...... -digest individual emails: -normal no email:......... -nomail moderator:........ -owner unsubscribe:...... -