Latin (botanical) name: Tabebuia impetiginosa (Lapacho)

Common names: Pau D’Arco, Ipe Roxo, Lapacho, Tahuari, Taheebo, Tabebuia ipe, Tajy

Plant Description: Native to the Andes, Pau D’Arco is a large rainforest tree found in tropical parts of South America. It can grow to a height of 150 feet and the base of the tree can be 4 to 6 feet in diameter. The bark is smooth, and the stems are yellowish-green with opposite deciduous leaves in whorls. The stems have five elliptic leaves of unequal size. They are either ovate or lanceolate. The flowers of the Pau D’Arco, which bloom in the spring, come in a variety of colors, from deep purple to yellow to blue, generally with a yellow throat. Conical or bell-shaped, they have 5 curly lobes. The fruit is a longish capsule made of two valves enclosing winged seeds.

Use: Make a tea by pouring approximately 2 cups of boiling water over 2 heaped tsp of herb. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. In general, sip a cup before breakfast, and another 2 hours after dinner.

Cautions & Interactions: Keep out of reach of children.