The tree, which produces large purple flowers, grows as high as 150 feet tall and can be up to six feet in diameter. The wood is used in construction and for making tools. The inner bark of the pau d arco is said to be used by native tribes to make a tea which they drink as a remedy for a number of conditions such as malaria, anemia, cough, fever, syphilis, and cancer. Since the early 1980s, pau d arco has been sold in health food stores in the United States, where it is promoted as a treatment for virtually every kind of medical complaint, including arthritis, ulcers, diabetes, and cancer. Taken internally, it is thought to relieve infections, reduce inflammation, and promote good digestion.
Anecdotal reports claim that it causes tumor regression.
Applied externally, pau d arco is a common alternative remedy for inflammatory skin conditions, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, eczema, and wounds. Pau d arco is available as capsules, tea bags, or loose powder. Medical research has identified several compounds in pau d arco that produce some effects against disease. Interest focuses on lapachol, an organic compound classified as a naphthoquinone. In laboratory animals, lapachol appears to be effective against malaria.