Adding Pau D'Arco For Dogs To Your Cancer Toolbox

Pau d'arco for dogs can be a beneficial addition to their wellness routine. To be completely transparent, I only recently heard about this South American herbal remedy, so I don't personally know too much about it.

After reviewing the research, though, I feel this is important to review with all of you. Pau d'arco is an herbal remedy that is used for a list of reasons, ranging from pain and inflammation to yeast infections in our dogs.

Pau D Arco For Dogs

Pau D'Arco (Tabebuia avellanedae) is a tall South American tree with pink blossoms. The supplement is derived from the inner lining of the tree's bark, which is scientifically known as the phloem. You may also hear this supplement referred to as lapacho or taheebo.

There are two main compounds in the lining known for being beneficial to our dog's health: lapachol and beta-lapachone. These belong to the naphthoquinone category of organic compounds often used to combat infections.

Medicinal Properties of Pau D'arco

Research has been digging deep into the medicinal benefits of this supplement. They have found them to be:

• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Antiviral
• Antiparasitic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Anti-cancer

Indigenous tribes have been utilizing pau d'arco for therapeutic purposes for hundreds of years. A Brazilian publication in the 1960s hailed the "miraculous treatments" of leukemia and cancer with pau d'arco tea.

In South America, this supplement is widely used for cancer. It's also employed for rheumatism, bronchitis, and digestive problems. When applied externally, it aids in managing fungal infections, eczema, and various skin conditions. 

Using Pau D'arco For Skin Infections

Yeast overgrowth can cause all sorts of issues for our dogs, including:

• Chronic skin issues
• Problems in the GI tract
• Ear infections

And it doesn't help that yeast is pretty hard to deal with. Fortunately, this supplement can be used to help with fungal infections. One of the compounds, lapachol, essentially suffocates the fungus to effectively get rid of it.

Research has actually found it to be as effective as the pharmaceutical drug known as ketoconazole. In fact, they believe it could work even better than pharma.

Managing Inflammation and Pain

Most chronic diseases, like cancer, arise due to uncontrolled inflammation. And it could be inflammation you can't even see. By managing inflammation, we can help reduce our dogs' risk of illness.

The beta-lapachone in the tree lining can regulate COX-2 inflammatory pathways. COX-2 are cyclogenase enzymes that create the compound, causing pain and inflammation.

Problems Within the GI Tract

H. pylori and other pathogenic bacteria can cause imbalances in the gut. Pau D'arco can help keep these bacteria in check.

In addition to aiding in balancing good and bad bacteria, Pau d'arco may be recommended as an alternative to antibiotics. And it can help gastric ulcers by lowering acetic acid in the stomach.

Cancer Cells and Pau D'Arco

Here's where the controversy comes in: some scientific studies show that Pau D'Arco can help fight cancer cells, whereas others believe the risks outweigh the pros.

The studies that show it's a beneficial addition to a dog's cancer regimen believe Pau D’arco may:

• Triggers cell suicide (AKA apoptosis)
• Reduces risk of metastasis (spread of cancer)
• Minimizes tumors

The primary cause of concern revolves around the need to provide such high amounts of Pau D'Arco to canine cancer patients. The large dosage could result in:

• Nausea
• Complications with blood clotting
• Diarrhea
• A toxic intake of hydroquinone
• Lack of regulation of an uncommon product leads to the purchase of low-quality products

More Warnings to Pet Parents

There are a few things to be aware of before considering Pau D'Arco. As we mentioned earlier, there are some concerns, especially for dogs with cancer.

1. Pau D'Arco thins the blood, so if you suspect your dog could be scheduled for surgery, or if they have a blood disorder of any kind, it's best to avoid it altogether.
2. The powder can result in respiratory problems and skin irritation.
3. It can be toxic to developing embryos.
4. Pau d'Arco interacts with anticoagulants (as it is one itself) and potentially vitamin K.

Whether any of the risks concern you or not, it's always wise to give a holistic vet a call to determine if a supplement is right for your individual case.

For further reading, we recommend:

Pau D'Arco for Dogs With Cancer: Be Careful Says Dr. Dressler

Veterinary Herbal Medicine: A Systems-Based Approach - PMC

The diverse mechanisms and anticancer potential of naphthoquinones

Antioxidant Properties of Lapachol and Its Derivatives and Their Ability to Chelate Iron (II) Cation: DFT and QTAIM Studies - PMC