Are you missing out on the magical palo azul tea?

Palo azul tea has been used as part of a healthy lifestyle since the 16th century in South America and it was transported to Europe for its incredible fluorescence. Since that time, palo azul has been popularized because of its natural diuretic properties for promoting kidney and urinary tract function. Palo azul is also widely known for its alkalinizing effect on the body, which may have beneficial effects on hydration, digestion and dental health.

Thanks to the work of the researchers who have published their findings about palo azul's properties, we now have evidence of palo azul's effectiveness for its traditional uses. Below this summary, we delve deeper into the specific findings from all the studies. 

Benefits Summary

Natural Diuretic

• Increases urine output with a potassium-saving effect

 

 Alkaline

• Better hydration and more essential minerals
• Non-erosive to teeth

 

Caffeine-free 

• Great for when you need a break from caffeine

 

Palo Azul Benefits

 

Potassium-Saving Diuretic

Diuretics are substances that promote diuresis, which means they increase water excretion (makes you urinate more). Interestingly, a 2016 study showed that palo azul tea is a "potassium-sparring diuretic", meaning that it prevented electrolyte loss during urination because it spared potassium...as opposed to aquaretic diuretics like coffee and green tea. 

Due to the popularity of palo azul as a diuretic, several studies have evaluated its efficacy and found it to be effective at promoting kidney function and maintaining normal urinary tract function. 

For example, a 2022 study mentions that "this plant contains polyphenols, flavonoids and alkaloids." This same study suggests that palo azul's "beneficial effects might be associated with diuretic activities, as well as an inhibitory effect on crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation of crystals."

 

Alkaline

Studies have found beneficial properties of alkaline drinks including: Better hydration, more essential minerals, less toxic heavy metals, improved acid reflux and they're non-erosive to teeth.

A 2007 study did an extensive 77 page analysis on palo azul and found that it has a small amount of potassium, which is an electrolyte that makes palo azul slightly alkaline. Therefore, the researchers found that palo azul "decreases the acidity of urine."

A 2006 book about botanical medicine also mentions that palo azul tea has an "alkalinizing nature" which allows it to dissolve acidic precipitants.

 

 

Caffeine-free

One of the things we love about palo azul is that it's caffeine-free, so we get to enjoy this beautiful tea throughout the entire day! Caffeine is an alkaloid that blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which would normally make you feel sleepy. 

Mathew Walker, the author of "Why We Sleep" explains that "by hijacking and occupying these receptors, caffeine blocks the sleepiness signal normally communicated to the brain by adenosine" and  "caffeine tricks you into feeling alert and awake, despite the high levels of adenosine that would otherwise seduce you into sleep."

Walker also mentions that "caffeine has an average half-life of 5-7 hours." This means that if you have a cup of coffee at 3 pm, by 9 pm you would still have "50% of that caffeine circulating throughout your brain tissue."

Caffeine can be helpful, but the key is to have balance and moderation. Just listen to your body and see how you feel. When you feel like it's time for a caffeine break...Palo azul tea will be there for you. 😁

 

 Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about palo azul's benefits and we hope that you share it with your loved ones so that they can also enjoy palo azul's magical properties!

 

 

Studies

Palo azul's scientific and common names: Eysenhardtia polystachya, Cyclolepis genistoides, Lignum nephricitum, kidney wood, kidney tea, palo dulce

 

(2022) Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Management of Urolithiasis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence, Bioactive Compounds, and Molecular Mechanisms

(2016) Diuretic activity of the bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya

(2006) Herbal medicine of the American Southwest: a guide to the medicinal and edible plants of the Southwestern United States

(2007) Estudio Etnobotánico de Eysenhardtia Polystachia (Ort.) Sarg. En una Comunidad del Municipio de Zempola, Hidalgo, y Evaluación del Efecto Diurético en Rata