Taheebo As A Herbal Cancer Cure
Taheebo is also popularly known as pau d arco, lapacho, red lapacho and ipe roxo.It is described as a broad-leaved tree.As a tabebuia specie, taheebo, particularly its inner bark, is accounted for many medicinal uses.In 1960, there are reports that tea made from taheebo bark was an effective antineoplastic agent - a drug that can treat cancer.
As cancer is one formidable and killer disease, susceptible individuals find the most natural way for cure.Taheebo which is native to the West Indies, Central and South America have been used for centuries by the Incas for treatment and health improvement.
The inner bark of taheebo is boiled down.In the early days, its decoction was applied to wounds for infection cure.
Taheebo holds many benefits.It was considered as a wonder drug as it posses antimicrobial properties.As a tea, it is indicated for fungal, viral and bacterial infection; for pain and fever; and for stomach and bladder problems.
Regarding its anticancer property, taheebo was known as a miraculous cure for cancer and tumors.Taheebo contains 2- 7 % of lapachol, a naphthoquinine derivative which is an anti-tumor compound.Studies sponsored by the National Institute in 1960, revealed that lapachol was effective against animal cancers.
However, upon human testing in 1970, there had been toxic side effects discovered at the effective concentration of the drug.These undesirable side effects include nausea and vomiting which is also common with chemotherapy drugs; and the anti-vitamin k activity which causes the anemia and bleeding disorder.With this, the National Cancer Institute has decided to discontinue further studies about taheebo for cancer.
There was another group who pursued the taheebo for its cancer cure.In 1980, a study of nine patients with different types of cancer has been successful with the taheebo treatment.While tumors were shrunken down, three out of the nine patients have been cured totally from their diseases.
Still, no further documentation or more scientific proof has been cited with this issue.
© Phoenix Montoya @ February 9, 2012