Herb
Pau d'Arco
An antifungal, immune-supporting bark tea traditionally used for skin conditions.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 60/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Pau d'arco is the inner bark of a South American tree, traditionally brewed as tea for immune and skin support.
📜 Where it comes from
Pau d'arco comes from the inner bark of a large tree native to the South American rainforest, where indigenous peoples traditionally brewed it as a tea for infections and general vitality. The practice spread from South American folk medicine into broader herbal use over the twentieth century, valued for its bitter bark and reputation for supporting the immune system and skin.
✨ Why it's good for you
- Traditionally used for fungal and skin conditions
- May offer gentle immune support
- Pleasant, mild tea
🥄 How to use it
Steep and drink up to 3 cups of pau d'arco teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → daily for short-term support, or apply cooled tea topically to skin irritations.
How much: Up to 3 cups of teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → daily, for a few weeks at a time.
Why it works: Compounds in the bark may have antifungal properties and traditionally are thought to support the immune systemYour body's built-in defense team that fights off germs and helps you heal. More →.
⚠️ Cautions
- May interact with blood thinners — check with a doctor first.
- Avoid during pregnancy and use only short-term.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
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🔎 What this addresses
Where Pau d'Arco fits into a condition's cause-and-symptom picture — some conditions it works on the root cause of, others it mainly soothes.
Eases the symptoms of
For these, it calms the condition without addressing what drives it.
- Eczema — Used traditionally as a bark teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → or salveA soothing herbal ointment for the skin. How to make a salve → for skin complaints; there is no eczema clinical trial evidence for it.
💬 Ask Remy about Pau d'Arco
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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