Anti-inflammatory
Palo azul "exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity"
Palo azul tea has been used traditionally for over 300 years to improve the health of conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, rheumatism, lumbago and gout. Recently, several studies have found that palo azul showed anti-inflammatory activity and they've supported palo azul's effectiveness for these traditional uses.
For example, a 2016 study found that palo azul "exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity" and the researchers concluded that "the results of this study demonstrated that the bark of palo azul acts as an anti-inflammatory agent."
A 2015 concluded a similar result: "Our data indicate that palo azul exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in all the trials of paw and ear edema induced exhibiting also anti-arthritic activity.”
Numerous studies have also found that palo azul tea is rich in flavonoids, which are natural phytonutrients produced by plants in order to fight oxidative stress and inflammation.
How can anti-inflammatories help you?
1. Improve arthritis health
A 2018 study found that palo azul and its flavonoids-rich fractions “inhibited secondary inflammatory reactions in arthritic rats.” The researchers of this study explain the biological mechanisms of palo azul's anti-arthritic effects:
“We evaluated the anti-arthritic and antinociceptive properties of an ethanolic extract of E. polystachya (palo azul) bark and its rich-flavonoids fractions in murine models. 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."
What is cartilage degradation, leukocyte infiltration and cytokines?
Cartilage degradation, or Osteoarthritis, occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates.
Leukocyte infiltration contributes to the development of tissue injury associated with inflammatory diseases. Leukocytes are activated to secrete a variety of substances such as growth factors, chemokines and cytokines, which are considered to be one of the primary sources of the tissue injury.
Cytokines are involved in the up-regulation of inflammatory reactions.
In other words...palo azul's flavonoids showed the ability to reduce bone deterioration and tissue injury because of their anti-inflammatory activity.
Flavonoid-rich foods: apples, pears, onions, strawberries, blueberries, celery, peppers, and teas
Moreover, a 2015 study found that 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.”
Finally, one study concluded the following: “Our findings support the use of Eysenhardtia polystachya bark (palo azul) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and pain management.”
2. Improve sciatic nerve health
Sciatic nerve pain is commonly caused by inflammation and the accumulation of uric acid. Aside from palo azul's anti-inflammatory effects, studies have also shown that it's an active uric acid reducer.
A 2019 study which tested palo azul's effects on diabetic mice, explains that "the accumulation of uric acid generates the production of monosodium urate crystals that can cause inflammatory and pain response, leading to renal and hepatic injuries." The researchers found that “groups treated with the dihydrochalcone (palo azul extract) showed a significantly decreased uric acid.”
A 2008 study which supports this finding, mentions that palo azul "has been used in traditional treatments of nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, 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.”
Moreover, this quote from a 2010 study illustrates the importance of inflammation and pain: "The inhibition (of inflammation) leads to a reduction in pain behavior and inflammation following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve."
A 2019 medical article similarly states that “any cause of irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can produce the symptoms of sciatica.” The authors also mention that "medications used in the treatment of sciatica include pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants.”
3. Promote joint health
A 2021 study mentions that "palo azul tea is widely used in folk medicine as a diuretic and for the treatment of kidney diseases, urinary tract irritation, kidney pain, bone pain (analgesic)."
Interestingly, a study also found that flavonoids “have the most potential of dietary components for promotion of bone health beyond calcium and vitamin D.” The researchers mentions that "recent epidemiological studies show flavonoid consumption to have a stronger association with bone than general fruit and vegetable consumption.”
A 2012 study explains the beneficial biological mechanisms of flavonoids in bone health:
“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.”
What does bone formation/resorption and osteoblast/osteoclast mean?
Bone formation, also called ossification, is the process by which new bone is produced.
Bone resorption is the destruction of bone tissues that promotes bone loss, that is, a decrease in bone mass and bone density.
Osteoblasts are cells that are involved in the formation and mineralization of bones
Osteoclasts are the cells that degrade bone to initiate normal bone remodeling and mediate bone loss in pathologic conditions by increasing their resorptive activity.
In other words...flavonoids showed the ability to promote new bone formation and prevent bone loss. For these reasons, flavonoids may be even more beneficial for bone health than calcium or vitamin D!
Powerful anti-inflammatories: vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil, turmeric, cocoa and teas
Conclusion
In summary, studies showed that palo azul tea could help to reduce inflammation and uric acid levels, and it's rich in flavonoids. These properties have all shown beneficial effects associated with these conditions, and this is why palo azul may help to promote bone health.
P.S. Don't forget to share palo azul's magic with your loved ones!
Clinical 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
(April 2021) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America: Cyclolepis Genistoides
(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