Effects of Lapacho on Parkinson's Disease

Lapacho, also known as pau d'arco, is a tree native to Paraguay, Brazil and the northern border of Argentina in the Amazon rainforest. Claims of miracle cures by tea made from lapacho bark are abundant for a variety of ailments from cancer to neurological disorders. Perhaps most compelling is the claim that it cures Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease

• The disease is named after James Parkinson, who led research of this palsy-like condition in the early 1800s. The primary physical characteristics of this disease are the dead and degenerated dopamine-producing cells in 80 percent of the patients' brains. Dopamine creates the smooth movement of muscles and limbs. According to Parkinsons.org, symptoms progress to tremors, stiffness of limbs, sluggishness and an inability to stand and walk.

Lapacho

• South American indigenous people use lapacho for curing a variety of illnesses. The inner bark of the tree has traditionally been used as a cancer treatment and as a remedy for infectious diseases. Chemical constituents of the crushed bark of the tree may kill fungi and other microorganisms, according to laboratory studies reported by HealthLibrary.epnet.com. Further study is necessary to determine its effect on human illnesses including cancer cells.

Lapacho and Parkinson's

• Parkinson researchers are working to find remedies for relief of symptoms. According to researcher A.F. dos Santos, there is hope in the natural health community that lapacho can in some way increase the dopamine levels in the sufferer's brains. While there have been no reports of double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that show a correlation between use of lapacho and lessening of symptoms Parkinson's disease, The chemical composition of the bark is similar to a precursor of dopamine.

Limitations

• Parkinson's patients should confer with their doctors before adding any herbal supplement, such as lapacho, to their regime, especially where drug interactions are not known. When a doctor has given permission for a patient to include this herb, lapacho can be consumed as a tea or as a pill made from the ground bark of the tree. These treatments remain experimental in nature and should be considered supplementary to a medical protocol.

Further Studies

• N. M. Lima conducted test-tube studies on chemical constituents of lapacho and found that they can kill a number of harmful organisms. Much research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these substances on people with diseases such as Parkinson's.