Lapacho's therapeutic uses
Lapacho, derived from the inner bark of the lapacho tree, is a natural plant product traditionally used in several South American Indigenous cultures for various health conditions. Its proposed therapeutic uses include treatments for cancer, bladder infections, colds, and skin conditions, among others. The active constituents of lapacho, such as lapachol, isolapachone, and lapachone, have garnered scientific interest, particularly for their potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, despite some promising laboratory findings, there is currently a lack of robust clinical evidence to support the efficacy of lapacho for these conditions in humans.
Commonly recommended dosages involve powdered bark in capsule form, typically ranging from 300 to 500 milligrams taken three times daily. While lapacho is believed to possess antioxidant properties, its effectiveness as a treatment for systemic infections is still under scrutiny, as much of the existing research is preliminary. Safety concerns have also been raised, particularly regarding its use by pregnant or nursing women, and its effects on young children or individuals with liver or kidney diseases remain unestablished. Overall, while lapacho is rich in traditional uses, further research is essential to validate its therapeutic claims and ensure safety.
Lapacho's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Bladder infection, cancer, colds and influenza, diarrhea, pain, psoriasis, ulcers, vaginal infections, yeast hypersensitivity syndrome, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, immune system support, antioxidant, several traditional uses
Overview
The inner bark of the lapacho tree plays a central role in the herbal medicine of several South American Indigenous cultures. The plant product is used to treat cancer and various infectious diseases.
Little scientific investigation has been conducted on lapacho as a whole herb. However, enormous scientific interest has focused on its three constituents: lapachol, apache, and isolapachone. The relevance of these findings to the use of lapacho itself remains unclear.
Therapeutic Dosages
Lapacho contains many components that do not dissolve in water, so making tea from the herb is not recommended. Instead, one should take powdered bark in capsule form; a typical dose is 300 to 500 milligrams three times daily. The inner bark of the lapacho tree is said to be the most effective part of the plant.
Therapeutic Uses
Based on its traditional uses, lapacho is sometimes recommended by herbalists as a treatment for cancer. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence that the herb is effective. Test-tube studies have found that lapachone can kill cancer cells by inhibiting an enzyme called topoisomerase, and there are hopes that effective anticancer drugs may eventually be produced through chemical modification of lapachone. Nonetheless, this does not indicate that lapacho is effective against cancer in humans; it would be difficult to take enough of the herb to provide active levels of lapachone. Additional study is necessary to explore these preliminary results.
Similarly, test-tube studies have found that constituents of lapacho (especially lapachone, isolapachone, and lapachol) may be able to kill various microorganisms, including various fungi and the parasites that cause schistosomiasis, malaria, and sleeping sickness. These findings have led to the widespread belief that lapacho is useful against the yeast Candida albicans, a common cause of vaginitis, and against the purported condition colloquially known as chronic candida; however, the supporting research remains far too preliminary to meaningfully show clinical benefits.
Similarly, these studies have been twisted to support claims that lapacho is useful for many infections, including colds, flu, and bladder infections. However, there are at least two problems with this reasoning. First, lapacho has been tested primarily against fungi and parasites; there is little evidence that it can kill viruses (the cause of colds) or bacteria (the cause of most bladder infections). Furthermore, even if lapacho can kill these microorganisms on direct contact, this does not imply that it would be effective if taken by mouth. Consider this analogy: wine easily kills the cold virus on direct contact, but if one drinks wine when one has a cold, one is not likely to get well faster.
Similarly, hundreds of herbal products kill microorganisms in the test tube but fail to prove effective as systemic antibiotics. A substance taken by mouth has to survive the digestive tract, pass through the liver, and reach sufficient concentrations in the bloodstream to produce a meaningful effect. Few substances can do this without simultaneously proving toxic to the body. Until lapacho’s potential effects as an oral antibiotic are examined directly, assuming that the herb will likely help systemic infections is not reasonable.
Considering these issues, it is important to note that lapacho was shown to inhibit the growth of H. pylori and Staphylococcus aureus in animal studies, but not to the extent of antibiotics. Animal studies also indicated that lapacho may play a role in reducing inflammation and aiding in weight loss. Human studies continued to be needed to confirm these results.
Lapacho and its constituents have also been investigated for potential use in treating pain, psoriasis, and ulcers. However, the evidence for benefit is too preliminary to rely upon.
Although there are no double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials of lapacho, several other proposed therapeutic uses exist. The inflammatory and analgesic properties of lapacho may benefit conditions such as arthritis, and lapacho’s antioxidant power may help fight free radicals, which are responsible for many chronic health conditions. Lapacho has been used traditionally for digestive issues, skin conditions, respiratory problems, and diabetes management.
Safety Issues
When taken in normal dosages, lapacho has not been found to cause any obvious side effects. However, full safety studies have not been performed. Furthermore, the anticancer actions of lapachone raise serious concerns about the safety of lapacho for pregnant women because, like cancer cells, cells of a developing fetus rapidly divide. Also, a study in animals found that lapachol caused fetal death. For all these reasons, pregnant or nursing women should not use lapacho. Safety in young children or those with severe liver or kidney disease also has not been established.
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