The ant tree is a woody plant native to South America. Belongs to the family of begonia and the genus Tabebuya. It has long been known to man and in different regions its names are different: lapacho negro, pink lapacho, pau d'arco-rojo and others. It is used as a honey plant, an ornamental plant, and the inside of the bark is used for medicinal purposes. It is dried and then brewed, resulting in a drink called lapacho or tahibo.
The bark of the tree is traditionally used in medicine by the indigenous peoples of Central and South America. Usually as a quick-acting remedy for malaise, for the relief of acute symptoms. It has a strong immunomodulatory, antibacterial, disinfectant effect. In the West, the bark of the ant tree began to be actively promoted back in the 80s of the 20th century as a tonic, restorative and adaptogenic agent. And recently, Lapacho remedies have been widely advertised as miraculous drugs to help cope with cancer and AIDS.
Dietary supplements with ant tree bark
Composition and properties declared by the manufacturer
The inner part of the bark of pau d'arco-rojo contains active substances with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral activity. The properties of a natural antibiotic are provided by the substance lapachol, which suppresses the vital activity of many pathogenic microorganisms.
The manufacturer claims that the ant tree bark supplement helps fight the following problems:
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- fungal infections;
- inflammation of various localizations;
- ARI;
- ENT diseases;
- gynecological diseases;
- pathologies of a different nature, affecting the genitourinary and excretory systems;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- diabetes;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- dermatological diseases;
- joint diseases: arthritis, arthrosis;
- bronchial asthma.
Harm, contraindications and side effects
Lapachol is a toxic substance, the positive effects of which outweigh the negative ones only when taken in minimal doses. Its toxicity is also the cause of many side effects that the agent can provoke, among them:
- indigestion;
- nausea, vomiting;
- dizziness and headaches;
- immune reactions, both skin and respiratory, the agent can provoke an attack of bronchial asthma;
- disorders of the functioning of the liver and organs of the excretory system;
- blood clotting disorders up to the development of thrombohemorrhagic syndrome.
The indigenous peoples of America are well aware of the possible side effects, it is for this reason that the bark of the ant tree is used only in severe cases to relieve acute symptoms in severe infectious diseases. It is taken once or in a very short course so as not to harm the body.
There are categories of people who are categorically prohibited from using the bark of the ant tree. Contraindications for admission are:
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- taking anticoagulants: warfarin, aspirin;
- the preparatory period before surgery;
- intolerance to the substances that make up the supplement.
When is the bark of the ant tree actually used?
You should know that the bark of the ant tree is generally not used to treat patients, unlike many other plants. In medicine, it is used, however, exclusively in non-traditional (folk). At the same time, the scope of application has been greatly expanded by marketers, most of the declared effects are absent.
It should also be noted that some of the ingredients are toxic, and ingestion of this product can cause serious harm to health.
The pronounced antibacterial effect is confirmed by numerous studies. However, experiments have never studied the effect on beneficial microorganisms that inhabit the body. Many antibiotics have a suppressive effect not only on pathogenic microflora, but also on intestinal bacteria. The same applies to pau d'arco: its reception can lead to death and a change in the numerical ratio of the intestinal flora, the development of dysbiosis.
As already noted, lapachol is a toxic substance belonging to a group of compounds that damage the cells of the body, causing their structural and functional changes. This action is in principle used in the search for a cure for cancer, and lapachol has also been investigated for anti-cancer action. As a result of the tests, scientists recognized it as ineffective, since it has an overly pronounced toxic effect, causes many side reactions, and can also provoke gene mutations.
In addition, when taking preparations based on the bark of the ant tree, there is a high risk of damaging not only abnormal, but also healthy cellular structures. It was found that under the action of lapachol, leukocytes, the main agents of the immune system, die.
Conclusion
The bark of the ant tree has indeed been used medicinally by the indigenous peoples of South America for thousands of years and has been beneficial in some cases. However, there are great difficulties with the sale of drugs based on this remedy throughout the rest of the world. They are due to the fact that very few specialists can correctly identify, collect and process natural raw materials.
The bark of the ant tree, which is used today in the manufacture of supplements, was harvested, transported and processed incorrectly, and the amount in the supplement can be hazardous to health or, conversely, have no effect. This also applies to Pau d'arco, marketed by the infamous Coral Club.
