Wellness Encyclopedia: Pau D’arco + Anima Mundi

Our bodies do all they can to restore and heal, but sometimes they need a little help…

The body’s capacity for healing is astounding. Think about it — about all we put ourselves through over the course of our lifetimes — even the most cautious lifestyle is bound to acquire a bug or two and some bumps and bruises along the way. To say nothing of those of us who choose to truly embrace life and all it has to offer, gaining more than our fair share of battle scars. In the same way we carry outer stamps of trauma and healing, our inner selves are just as susceptible to the inevitabilities of life. We get sick, we take antibiotics (healing yes, but not without their consequences), we maybe eat a little too much sugar from time to time… and our bodies do all they can to restore and heal, but sometimes they need a little help! Just as a band aid or cast assists in the healing process, tonifying the internal system with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens and superfoods gives our bodies the extra boost they need to flush out the bad stuff that may be chilling a little too long and wreaking havoc on the system. Today I’m diving into just such an ingredient. Antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory — powerful pau d’arco does it all, naturally. Read on to learn all about this South American superfood and how to use it!

What is it? Most often sold as a powder or tea, pau d’arco is sourced from the pink ipê (or pink trumpet) tree, a tree native to South America and the national tree of Paraguay. Boasting gorgeous bright pink trumpet-like flowers and extremely hard wood, pau d’arco powder is crafted from the wood and external bark of the tree and has been used since — at least — the 1800’s to treat a wide range of ailments (though it’s use most likely dates much farther back than that — pau d’arco use is even thought to predate the Inca). Known as a rainforest heal-all, pau d’arco helps everything from inflammation and candida.

What are the benefits? Though it treats a variety of ailments, pau d’arco is most commonly used in Western medicine to treat candida and yeast overgrowth, often caused by too many antibiotics, and too much sugar and caffeine. These two issues can cause a host of dramatic symptoms, including brain fog, depression, digestive upset, migraines and infertility. It’s thought that the main active chemicals in pau d’arco are naphthoquinones — specifically lapachol and beta-lapachone. These two chemicals boast anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and antiviral properties, killing off candida and ridding the body of yeast overgrowth. These same properties are also effective in treating arthritis, pain, inflammation, and boosting the immune system — pau d’arco is a full body healer, boosting nearly every system.

How to use pau d’arco… Add 1-2 tsp of Anima Mundi’s Pau D’Arco powder to freshly pressed juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls or porridge. To make as a tea, mix ½ – 1 tsp pau d’arco powder into 8 oz. boiling water and allow to steep for 15 minutes. If using for candida or yeast overgrowth, take 2-3 times daily. If using to tonify, take 1-2 times daily. Pau d’arco is best consumed with food or within an hour of eating. Try the simple smoothie recipe below for an easy and delicious way to make pau d’arco part of your wellness routine.

Anti-Candidal Pau D’Arco Smoothie

[serves 1]

Ingredients:

8 oz organic coconut water

½ frozen banana

Handful organic kale

½ small mango

¼ cup organic blueberries

1-2 tsp Anima Mundi Pau D’Arco

Optional: Vegan protein powder

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Serve & enjoy!

+ Shop all Anima Mundi products here.

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This information is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease or issue. 
Please seek your doctor’s advice for any questions regarding a specific condition and before beginning any exercise, diet or health-related regimen.

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If it’s used to treat too much sugar, then it’s for me…

Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com

7 years ago

It’s always a pleasure to read about natural alternatives that cure aliments