Palo azul, scientifically known as Eysenhardtia polystachya, is a shrub or small tree, also referred to as kidney wood, traditionally used to create a blue, fluorescent tea with several beneficial compounds. It stands approximately 3-9 meters high and has leaves that divide into smaller leaflets. The bark, which is rough and scaly in texture with a reddish-brown appearance, is traditionally steeped in water to create an infusion with an earthy flavor and iridescent blue hue. While Palo Azul tea is a popular South American beverage, its unique nutritional profile and health benefits have caused it to rise in popularity in recent years in other parts of the world as well. For centuries, Indigenous peoples have used palo azul in folk medicine as a natural remedy for urinary tract, digestive, and inflammatory conditions. Today, it has gained attention for its potential to support kidney health, digestive regularity, blood sugar balance, pain management, and even weight loss.
What is Palo Azul Tea?
Palo Azul tea is an herbal diuretic tea brewed with the bark of the Palo Azul plant, scientifically known as Eysenhardtia polystachya. Also known as kidneywood, this herb has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and the bark is known to contain some very unique nutrients. When you purchase Palo Azul, it typically comes in the form of wood chips of the bark, which you can then steep in the water to release the flavonoids, sterols, and phenolic compounds contained in this powerful plant. These active ingredients can have a range of effects in the body, but this tea is particularly well known for its hepatoprotective effects, meaning it protects the liver so it can properly detoxify the body. In recent years, it has become very popular for those who need to pass drug tests, likely due to its diuretic effects flushing out metabolites from certain recreational drugs, such as marijuana.
Traditional Uses and Reported Benefits
Palo azul has a rich history of being used as an herbal remedy in folk medicine, where it’s believed to be particularly effective for the kidneys and the bladder. Traditionally, bark and/or leaf infusions from the tree are prepared to support urinary health. These parts of the plant are believed to help flush out toxins, support kidney health, prevent urinary infections, and prevent the formation of kidney stones thanks to their diuretic properties. Several of the potential benefits of consuming palo azul tea include kidney stone prevention, digestive relief from diarrhea, reduced joint pain and inflammation, and improved blood sugar regulation.
The possible primary benefits of Palo Azul tea include:
- Protecting kidney health
- Reducing inflammation
- Weight loss
- Treating digestive upset
- Preventing chronic diseases
- Improving mental health
Kidney Health
The primary use of Palo Azul tea throughout history has been to strengthen and protect the body’s natural detoxification systems. Results from a study published in Pharmacognosy Magazine indicate that this tea might prevent oxidative stress, suppressing kidney and pancreas cell damage. This tea may also lower your risk of kidney stones, promote healthy urination and the rapid expulsion of toxins metabolites from the body. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects play a crucial role in combating harmful reactive oxygen species, which are unstable molecules that cause oxidative stress (an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body) and damage healthy kidney cells.
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Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Arthritis Relief
The active components of this tea are known to possibly minimize the pain and discomfort of arthritis, as well as other inflammatory conditions, such as gout. Another study published in the African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology showed that Palo Azul tea may even be effective in treating both chronic and acute inflammation and effectively reduced edema (swelling) in inflamed areas. Experimental animal studies have found that the flavonoids in palo azul bark contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties and might reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and GM-CSF in those with arthritis.
This immune malfunction is typically accompanied by the release of inflammatory molecules called cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). These cytokines activate surrounding immune cells that release more inflammatory molecules, creating a continual cycle that further damages and impairs joint function.
Digestive Health
The incredible calming anti-inflammatory properties of Palo Azul tea extend to the digestive system as well. The branches and leaves of palo azul contain an active compound called D-pinitol, which may provide relief from digestive discomfort. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology indicates that this tea is an effective anti-diarrheal agent, just as effective as standard drugs. Animal studies have shown that this natural compound may be as effective as standard drugs, such as loperamide, in treating diarrhea. Palo Azul contains tannins a digestive enzyme that helps with food digestion by breaking it down and preventing constipation. Additionally, it contains flavonoids, a fluid that helps digest fatty foods faster and prevents indigestion.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Palo azul may assist in maintaining balanced blood glucose (sugar) levels. The flavonoids and antioxidants in the palo azul tree can be helpful for individuals with insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance, as they help lower blood glucose levels. Another significant issue with high blood sugar is the glycation of proteins. According to an animal study, the flavonoids in palo azul may protect the body from the cell-damaging effects of reactive oxygen species by acting as antioxidants.
Potential Role in Weight Loss
A study published in Pharmacognosy Magazine showed promising effects on body weight in animal models. Mice receiving Eysenhardtia polysachya showed a significant reduction in not only body weight but also blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol.
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Several mechanisms might contribute to palo azul's potential weight loss effects:
Diuretic Properties: The diuretic properties of palo azul make it popular among individuals seeking weight loss or gentle detoxification. Palo Azul acts as a potassium-sparing diuretic, which means it aids in flushing out toxins through urination without causing electrolyte loss, particularly sparing potassium.
Metabolism Boost: Palo Azul helps increase metabolism which means your body burns more calories.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Numerous studies have demonstrated that palo azul is anti-diabetic because it improves insulin sensitivity. Low insulin sensitivity causes your body to produce higher amounts of insulin, which is also the main fat-storage hormone in your body, and will therefore store your body’s energy as fat.
Flavonoids and Energy Expenditure: A study looked at 124,000 people and found that flavonoids increase energy expenditure, decrease fat absorption, and function as anti-inflammatories. They also mentioned that participants who consumed more flavonoids maintained their weight better or even lost some weight.
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Lipid Metabolism Regulation: PPAR-y regulates the expression of numerous genes involved in lipid metabolism, including aP2, PPCK, acyl-CoA synthase, and LPL (lipoprotein lipase). Acyl-CoA synthase is an enzyme complex responsible for fatty acid biosynthesis. Long-chain acyl-CoAs are substrates for most pathways that use FA (fatty acids) for energy production or for the synthesis of complex lipids like phospholipids, cholesteryl esters, ceramide, and TAG.
Increased Lipolysis and Fatty Acid Oxidation: Polyphenols such as citrus flavonoids, green tea epigallocatechin gallate, resveratrol, capsaicin, and curcumin, have been reported to increase lipolysis and induce fatty acid β-oxidation through modulation of hormone sensitive lipase, acetyl-coA carboxylase, carnitine acyl transferase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1.
Carnitine palmitoyltransferase is a mitochondrial membrane protein that converts long-chain fatty acyl-CoA molecules to their corresponding acylcarnitine molecules. The resulting acylcarnitines are then available for transport into the mitochondrial matrix where they can undergo fatty acid oxidation.
It’s worth noting, however, that claims of rapid weight loss through this herbal tea should be approached with caution. Further studies are needed to better explore the use of this tea as a potential weight loss aid.
Preventing Chronic Diseases
Oxidative stress is associated with many chronic diseases like diabetes. Compounds within the tea show high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, which may potentially help protect against these conditions. Palo Azul tea may also be especially an effective and protective agent for diabetes. The tea inhibits high blood sugar, high cholesterol and protects the liver, all of which is important in helping to prevent various complications of diabetes. Palo Azul is rich in polyphenols which protect the body from inflammation, heart diseases, and anti-arthritis. Because Palo Azul contains flavonoids, it also reduces bad cholesterol and prevents plaque in the arteries. This not only helps the health of the heart but also helps prevent a stroke from occurring. The Tannins, as mentioned before, reduce blood pressure and allow blood to flow and the heart to pump blood into the body.
Antimicrobial properties
The antimicrobial compounds in the plant may also help treat oral bacterial diseases. Since the use of palo azul bark and leaves helps prevent fluid retention, it may also aid in reducing uric acid levels in the body.
How to Prepare Palo Azul Tea
Palo azul has a mild, woody, and subtly sweet flavor that is often enjoyed in the form of tea. Palo Azul is usually sold in small portions of wood, which you boil in hot water until it becomes a blue tea. You can then strain the wood and drink immediately for better health benefits. This tea is tasteless, which means it has no calories and will benefit you more than other teas that may have additional preservatives because it is so simple to make you know the exact ingredients you put into your body.
Traditionally, preparations of palo azul tea require one or two pieces of bark or approximately 10 grams of the branches and leaves.
You can make Palo Azul tea at home quite simply if you can find the Palo Azul wood chips at an import store or specialist grocer.
Here are simple instructions to make Palo Azul tea at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of Palo Azul Bark
- 6 cups of water
Instructions:
- Bring 6 cups of water to boil in a large pot.
- Add 1 ounce of Palo Azul wood chips to the water.
- Cover the pot and allow the wood chips to boil for an hour.
- Remove from heat and remove the bark, which should be floating on top.
- You can drink this resultant tea either warm or cold. If you wish to drink it cold, refrigerate it for a few hours.
The tea's color alters as you cook it. It transitions through a variety of shades of brown, red, and blue. If you want the color of the tea to be bluer, you can cook it for half an hour. Moreover, the blue color is merely seen as a refraction of light. If you wish to have an even more intense shade of blue, pour the tea in a clear water bottle or glass and hold it near the light. This will help you see the blue hues of the tea.
The best way to enjoy the tree’s benefits is by drinking palo azul tea, which you can prepare using loose bark or commercially available tea bags. Pour the tea into a cup and drink hot or cold. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
Side Effects and Precautions
There are very few side effects associated with Palo Azul tea, and there are no reported cases of toxicity.
However, it's important to keep the following in mind:
Limited Scientific Studies: Although palo azul has been used for centuries, very few scientific studies have been conducted to determine its safety and efficacy.
Not a Miracle Cure: Many of the perceived benefits of palo azul are based on historical use and anecdotal evidence.
Potential Interactions: May interact with medications.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Don’t drink the tea when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Consult a Healthcare Provider: However, you should always consult your healthcare provider before adding herbal teas and remedies to your dietary regimen.