Anti-inflammatory
This is one of palo azul’s most beneficial health properties! Considering that it is responsible for improving your sciatic nerve health, reducing back pain and arthritis pain.
Six clinical studies concluded in their results that palo azul induced a significant inhibition of inflammation and/or showed anti-inflammatory activity. Palo azul has been used for over 300 years to treat sciatica and arthritis pain, and these studies supported palo azul's efficacy for treating these ailments.
How can anti-inflammatories help you?
Reduce sciatic nerve pain
One of the lesser known benefits of palo azul is that it can improve sciatic nerve health. The main reason for this is that sciatic nerve pain is commonly caused by an accumulation of uric acid in the blood, and Palo Azul is an active reducer of uric acid levels.
Inflammation is another common cause of sciatic nerve pain and many studies have proven Palo Azul’s powerful anti-inflammatory activity. For these 2 reasons, palo azul has been traditionally used to cure sciatic nerve pain for centuries!
This are some of the most antiinflammatory foods: vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil, turmuric, cocoa and teas such as palo azul
Uric Acid Reducer
One study mentions that “the plant (palo azul) has been used in traditional treatments of nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis [2], lumbalgia, arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, and as blood depurative because it eliminates uric acid, of which application the palo azul derives its diuretic and antirheumatic fame.”
Another study found that uric acid indices were significantly higher in the group of diabetic mice that did not receive the blue stick extracts compared to the control group.
This same study concluded the following:
“Groups treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of the dihydrochalcone (palo azul extract) showed a significantly decreased (p < 0.05) uric acid.”
Ant-inflammatory
Results from 6 different studies concluded in their results that palo azul induced a significant inhibition of inflammation and/or showed anti-inflammatory activity.
One medical study concluded the following: The inhibition (of inflammation) leads to a reduction in pain behavior and inflammation following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve.
Another medical article mentions that “any cause of irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can produce the symptoms of sciatica.”
Hundreds of studies have shown that palo azul and its flavonoids are powerful anti-inflammatories and because of this property, their ability to calm joint pain has been demonstrated.
Flavonoids
In addition to the palo azul's ability to inhibit inflammation and reduce uric acid levels, it also contains some of the healthiest compounds in the world!
You can learn all about flavonoids here, but for now just know that there are hundreds of studies that have shown that they have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging properties, etc.
In fact, one study found that flavonoids (found in vegetables, fruits and teas like palo azul) “have the most potential of dietary components for promotion of bone health beyond calcium and vitamin D.”
This finding is supported by population studies which have shown “flavonoid consumption to have a stronger association with bone than general fruit and vegetable consumption.”
These are the most flavonoid-rich foods: apples, pears, onions, strawberries, blueberries, celery, peppers, and teas such as palo azul
Reduce back pain and arthritis
Several studies have found that flavonoids and the anti-inflammatory capacities of palo azul are effective for treating arthritis and pain management.
One study which found that “the ethanol extract of palo azul and its flavonoids-rich fractions “inhibited secondary inflammatory reactions in arthritic rats” also concluded that “many plant constituents, including flavonoids, have proven effective against arthritis.”
Another study mentions that “many plant constituents, including flavonoids, have proven effective against arthritis by reducing cartilage degradation, diminishing leukocyte infiltration in the synovial space, decreasing serum cytokine levels, and other mechanisms (9).”
Lastly, a study concluded the following:
“Our findings support the use of Eysenhardtia polystachya bark for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and pain management.”
Reduce joint pain
A common cause of joint pain is due to inflammation, and as we’ve discovered...many studies have shown palo azul’s powerful anti-inflammatory activity.
On top of this, one study found that flavonoids (found in vegetables, fruits and teas like palo azul) “have the most potential of dietary components for promotion of bone health beyond calcium and vitamin D.”
This finding is supported by population studies whichecent have shown “flavonoid consumption to have a stronger association with bone than general fruit and vegetable consumption.”
This is precisely why palo azul has been used effectively for treating ailments such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, gout and sciatica.
Below, we have summarized the key points of all the medical studies we have analyzed and also cited all the scientific literature. Don't keep it to yourself though...share palo azul's magic with your loved ones!
Key findings (Sciatica)
• “Medications used in the treatment of sciatica include pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants.”
• “Groups treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of the dihydrochalcone (palo azul extract) showed a significantly decreased (p < 0.05) uric acid.”
Key findings (Arthritis)
• One study found that “the ethanol extract of palo azul and its flavonoids-rich fractions “inhibited secondary inflammatory reactions in arthritic rats” and that “many plant constituents, including flavonoids, have proven effective against arthritis.”
• “PAM (palo azul) possesses significantly dose-related antiarthritic activity in M. tuberculosis-induced adjuvant arthritis test in rat, which is considered close to simulating human rheumatoid arthritis.”
• “Our findings support the use of Eysenhardtia polystachya bark for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and pain management.”
Key points (Joints)
• “Recent epidemiological studies show flavonoid consumption to have a stronger association with bone than general fruit and vegetable consumption.”
• Flavonoids “have been reported to enhance bone formation and to inhibit bone resorption through their action on cell signaling pathways that influence osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.”
Medical Studies
* Palo Azul is commonly referred to by its scientific name: Eysenhardtia polystachya / E. polystachya / E.P - Cyclolepis genistoides / C. genistoides - kidney wood - palo dulce
(May 25, 2011) Anti-inflammatory properties from isolated compounds of Cyclolepis genistoides
(2012) Flavonoid intake and bone health
(2009) Chapter 18 - Flavonoids and Cardiovascular Health
(2016, Dec 29) (Medical Review: 161 studies) Flavonoids: an overview
(2014) Chapter 32 - Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Dietary Flavonoids