FACT FILE
Remedies from the rainforest

The vast continent of South America is home to an abundance of plant life and a rich and ancient tradition of herbal medicine. Here we discuss three of the most important South American remedies to keep in your herbal medicine cabinet.

Considering the astounding biodiversity of the region, it’s no wonder that the native peoples of Latin America have made extensive use of their local plants for medicinal purposes. Perhaps more surprising is that so few of these herbal remedies have made their way into the West. In Australia, three of the most popular South American herbs are Pau D’Arco, Cat’s Claw and Damiana.

Pau D’Arco (Tabebuia heptaphylla)
Also known as Lapacho and Taheebo, the Pau D’Arco tree is native to the Amazonian rainforest and other parts of South America. Its medicinal use in Brazil is believed to date back at least 1000 years. 
 
The timber of the Pau D’Arco tree is renowned for its ability to resist fungal attack, and appropriately, today the herb is predominantly taken for its antifungal properties. In particular, it is a popular remedy against candida, but has also traditionally been used to treat a wide range of other fungal and bacterial infections. 
 
In addition to being taken internally, Pau D’Arco has traditionally been applied topically to skin conditions, especially those of a microbial or fungal nature. Researchers in Taiwan have demonstrated that the topical application of a compound found in Pau D’Arco bark called beta-lapachone promotes wound healing, but further research will be required before we know whether this occurs in humans.

Use: For adults, the recommended dose is 1000mg of Pau D’Arco bark powder, taken in capsules three times daily. Alternatively, make Pau D’Arco tea by adding 5g (1 level tablespoon) to a cup (250ml) of boiling water and allowing the tea to steep for 20 minutes before straining. Take one cup 3-4 times daily.

Pau D’Arco is also available in lotions, often combined with healing botanicals such as Aloe Vera gel and Rosehip oil. Apply to the affected area several times per day.

Safety notes: Do not take Pau D’Arco during medical treatment for cancer unless advised to do so by your healthcare practitioner. It is possible that the herb may interact with your medicine. Pau D’Arco is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as little is known about its safety during these times.

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
Cat’s Claw is a giant vine that takes its name from the talon-like thorns that enable it to climb over other plants in the highland regions of the Amazon jungle and other tropical parts of South America.

It is known for its immune-boosting properties, and has traditionally been used for promoting resistance to infection. Laboratory research supports its traditional reputation, and in in vitro studies, Cat’s claw and some of its constituents have been shown to possess the ability to stimulate immune function via a number of mechanisms.

As Cat’s Claw also has anti-inflammatory properties, herbalists sometimes recommend it for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.

Use: Cat’s Claw is often taken with other herbs that support the immune system, such as Echinacea and Astragalus. The recommended dose for adults is 600mg, taken in capsules, three times daily with meals.
Safety notes: Cat’s Claw is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as little is known about its safety during these times. Do not take Cat’s Claw if you are taking blood-thinning medicine, blood pressure medicine, or treatment for autoimmune disease, unless you are advised to do so by your healthcare practitioner.

Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
Damiana while not truly from the rainforest it is often promoted as such, in fact it is from the dryer regions of tropical South America, Mexico, the West Indies and southern states of the USA.

The Mayan Indians used it as an aphrodisiac, and to this day Damiana retains its reputation for boosting libido and enhancing sexual function. It is also regarded as a nervous system tonic with stamina-enhancing properties, and consequently is specifically indicated whenever issues such as fatigue, anxiety, stress or depressed moods contribute to a reduction in sexual interest or performance.

To date Damiana has not been the subject of much clinical research, however a number of studies do lend weight to its traditional use as a libido tonic. For example, laboratory experiments suggest that it has mild hormonal effects, while other studies have shown it to promote healthy sexual performance in animals that are sexually sluggish or exhausted.

Use: The recommended dose is 700mg of dried Damiana leaf powder, taken in capsules three times daily.

Safety notes: Damiana is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as little is known about its safety during these times. Do not take it if you are also taking anti-diabetic medication, as it is possible that the herb may interfere with the action of your medicine.  

The annihilation of the Amazon – what will it cost?


The Amazon rainforest occupies 6 million square kilometres - an area approximately two-thirds the size of the USA that’s home to more than 20 million people who live in cities, towns, villages and the jungle itself.
Since the 1970s, logging and deforestation have destroyed an area of the rainforest roughly equivalent in size to the whole of France. In the Brazilian Amazon, up to 80 per cent of that logging occurs illegally.

Over 300,000 species of plants are known to grow in the Amazon, but it has been estimated that at least another 20,000 are yet to be identified. At present, the medicinal potential of only around 650 of these plants has been assessed.

About 1000 species of native plants and animals in the Amazon are currently in immediate danger of distinction - if logging continues unabated this number is likely to grow in the future.

As the forest disappears, so to do people’s homes, livelihoods and a wealth of plant life that may have potent medicinal properties or be potential life-saving medicines of the future. There are of course strategies that companies can use – Nature’s Sunshine Products insist that when the inner bark of the Pau D’Arco tree is harvested for their products that the bark is not stripped completely around the trunk of the tree – thus allowing the tree to survive.