Learn more about lapacho’s botanical characteristics and habitat

Also known as Pau d’Arco, the lapacho is a perennial, non-hardy tree that is extremely easy to recognize. Imposing, it can grow up to 40 meters tall and can be impressively wide. Its trunk is green, while its bark is grayish. Completely smooth, the bark tends to crack as the tree ages. Lapacho leaves are evergreen. Full and sometimes toothed, they attract the eye with their brilliant green color. Once the leaves have fallen, the tree reveals large, trumpet-shaped flowers. They feature a tubular corolla that varies from pink to purple or red. These magnificent flowers are one of the tree’s most distinctive features. They only appear when the tree has reached full size, and only in spring. Lapacho fruits take the form of a smooth cylindrical capsule with 2 valves. These contain the tree’s winged seeds. Unlike other trees used in phytotherapy, lapacho is not cultivated. However, it is possible to find it in bonsai and greenhouse form, particularly in France. In the wild, this tree grows in tropical regions, notably in Amazonia and Brazil. It also grows along the plateaus of the Andes mountain range. Lapacho is also extremely hardy. In ideal conditions, it can grow at altitudes of 4,000 meters.

Learn more about the harvesting, natural composition and use of lapacho

In phytotherapy, only the inner bark of the tree is used. Also known as sapwood, this bark can be harvested without damaging the tree itself. Nevertheless, harvesting must be carried out according to ancestral know-how. This takes into account the time of day, the orientation of the trunk in relation to the sun, and the height of the bark to be harvested. Compliance with these criteria guarantees the quality of the extract. Moreover, the bark is harvested exclusively in fragments.

Only the bark from a single part of the tree is extracted. To respect the tree and its growth, it is advisable not to touch the part of the tree from which the bark has been harvested for several months or years. Phytotherapy has chosen to use only lapacho sapwood, because it is naturally rich in active ingredients. It contains flavonoids, including quercetins, mineral salts, saponosides and coumarins.

These active ingredients act synergistically to considerably increase the body’s physiological resistance to severe environmental conditions. For easy, everyday consumption, Lapacho bark extracts are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and dosages. Depending on requirements, they can be taken as capsules, tablets and powders for herbal teas and decoctions. As the taste of bark is slightly bitter, we recommend adding a teaspoon of honey or lemon to the infusion. This makes the drink easier to swallow.

In addition, there are a number of recipes for healthy, flavored drinks based on lapacho bark extracts. The possibilities are endless, as these extracts have the advantage of being easy to mix with other ingredients. These include vanilla, ginger, goji berries and cinnamon. Whatever format you choose, it’s always advisable to follow the product’s instructions for consumption.

We encourage you to pay close attention not only to the dosage, but also to the duration of the cure. This can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the case. Last but not least, for your own well-being, you should always adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle, during and even after the cure.