This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Palo Azul contains flavonoids and isoflavones such as coumestrol and formononetin that provide diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds increase urine output, which may help flush small kidney stones and reduce urinary tract inflammation. The increased urine flow dilutes crystal-forming substances, potentially preventing stone formation. Evidence Level: C (preliminary research and traditional use).
Does Palo Azul interact with medications?
Palo Azul's diuretic properties may enhance the effects of prescription diuretics like furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide, potentially causing excessive fluid loss and electrolyte imbalances. Due to limited clinical interaction studies, individuals taking blood pressure medications, lithium, or drugs affected by kidney function should consult a healthcare provider before combining with Palo Azul. Evidence Level: C (theoretical based on mechanism).
What is the recommended dosage for Palo Azul tea?
The traditional adult dosage is 10-20 grams of dried Palo Azul bark prepared as a tea, consumed once daily. The bark is typically boiled for 10-15 minutes to extract the active flavonoids and isoflavones. This preparation has been used traditionally for kidney and urinary tract support. Evidence Level: C (traditional use, limited clinical data).
Is Palo Azul safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Palo Azul is considered unsafe during pregnancy. The herb's diuretic properties and isoflavone content may stimulate uterine contractions and pose risks to fetal development. Due to insufficient safety data, breastfeeding women should also avoid Palo Azul. Pregnant or nursing individuals should consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. Evidence Level: C (traditional contraindication).
What is Palo Azul used for in traditional medicine?
Palo Azul is traditionally used in Mexican folk medicine for kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and bladder inflammation. It functions as a natural diuretic to promote urine flow and reduce urinary tract inflammation. The herb is also known for producing a distinctive blue fluorescence under UV light due to its flavonoid content. Evidence Level: C (traditional use, preliminary research).
What side effects can Palo Azul cause?
Palo Azul is generally well tolerated at recommended doses. Reported side effects are minimal but may include mild gastrointestinal upset and increased urination due to its diuretic action. No serious adverse events have been documented in traditional use. Individuals with existing kidney conditions should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence Level: C (traditional use reports).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 26 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Palo Azul refers to two different plants: Eysenhardtia polystachya (a Mexican tree) and Cyclolepis genistoides (a South American shrub), both used traditionally for kidney and metabolic disorders [PMID:40504372, PMID:32612029].
Background
The name 'Palo Azul' is applied to Eysenhardtia polystachya (Fabaceae), an endemic Mexican tree [PMID:31500000, PMID:18266292], and Cyclolepis genistoides (Asteraceae), a South American medicinal shrub [PMID:42178400, PMID:24176232].
Traditional uses
Eysenhardtia polystachya is used in Mexican traditional medicine for chronic inflammatory pathologies, urinary disorders, diabetes, oxidative stress [PMID:40504372], cancer, infections, diarrhea, inflammation, and pain [PMID:29913299], and as an anti-rheumatic and analgesic agent [PMID:29755555]. Cyclolepis genistoides is used in South America as a diuretic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, and for kidney and liver disorders [PMID:42178400, PMID:21609303].
Active compounds
Eysenhardtia polystachya contains isoflavans (e.g., (3S)-7-hydroxy-2',3',4',5', 8-pentamethoxyisoflavan), flavonoids, dihydrochalcones (e.g., 3'-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl α,4,2',4',6'-pentahydroxy-dihydrochalcone), and molecules such as Coatline B and Matlaline [PMID:9644061, PMID:30925713, PMID:40504372, PMID:27668038]. Cyclolepis genistoides contains oleanolic acid and deacylcynaropicrin [PMID:21609303].
Mechanism of action
Eysenhardtia polystachya exhibits nephroprotective effects via antioxidant, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) regulation pathways [PMID:40504372] and antiglycation activity by inhibiting protein glycation [PMID:30925713]. Cyclolepis genistoides modulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) to regulate adipokine expression (leptin and resistin) and promote adipocyte differentiation [PMID:24176232, PMID:32612029].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DDiabetic Nephropathy
Dihydrochalcone from E. polystachya significantly reduced markers of renal dysfunction (creatinine, urea, BUN) and inhibited protein glycation in diabetic mice [PMID:30925713]
Evidence DRheumatoid Arthritis
Ethanolic extract of E. polystachya bark delayed progression of arthritis and showed antinociceptive activity in murine models [PMID:29755555]
Evidence DDiabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
C. genistoides promoted adipocyte differentiation and decreased subcutaneous adipose volume in high-fat-diet mice [PMID:32612029]
Evidence DAcute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Coatline B and Matlaline from E. polystachya reduced renal tissue damage and prevented decline in kidney function in vivo and in vitro [PMID:40504372]
Safety & adverse effects
An ethanol extract of E. polystachya branches and leaves was evaluated for toxicity using the comet assay in human PBMC and acute toxicity tests in mice, though specific adverse effect results were not detailed in the abstract [PMID:29913299].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based on preclinical studies (in vitro and animal models) and ethnomedical surveys; there are no human clinical trials provided in the abstracts.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 9644061 (1998) — Cytotoxic isoflavans from Eysenhardtia polystachya. · Journal of natural products
2.PMID: 24176232 (2013) — Cyclolepis genistoides D. Don (palo azul) promotes differentiation of adipocytes and regulates adipokine expression. · Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)
3.PMID: 40504372 (2025) — Nephroprotective activity of Eysenhardtia polystachya through antioxidant, H2S, and NO pathways. · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
4.PMID: 27262535 (2016) — Ethanol extract of Cyclolepis genistoides D. Don (palo azul) induces formation of myotubes, which involves differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells. · Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)
5.PMID: 32612029 (2020) — [Anti-diabetic effect of ethanol extract of Cyclolepis genistoides D. Don (Palo azul), made in Paraguay].
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 29755555 (2018) — The Ethanolic Extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ort.) Sarg. Bark and Its Fractions Delay the Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Show Antinociceptive Activity in Murine Models. · Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
7.PMID: 30925713 (2019) — 3'-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α,4,2',4',6'-pentahydroxy-dihydrochalcone, from Bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy via Inhibiting Protein Glycation in STZ-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Mice. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 29913299 (2018) — Pharmacological and toxicological study of a chemical-standardized ethanol extract of the branches and leaves from Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg. (Fabaceae). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
9.PMID: 18266292 (2008) — Development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the characterization of "palo azul" (Eysenhardtia polystachya). · Journal of separation science
10.PMID: 26020221 (2015) — Ixodicide activity of Eysenhardtia polystachya against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. · Journal of animal science
11.PMID: 24991120 (2014) — Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiglycating activities of the Eysenhardtia polystachya. · Pharmacognosy magazine
12.PMID: 29750032 (2018) — Protection of silver nanoparticles using Eysenhardtia polystachya in peroxide-induced pancreatic β-Cell damage and their antidiabetic properties in zebrafish. · International journal of nanomedicine
13.PMID: 31500000 (2019) — Fluorescence decay rate of selected compounds from Eysenhardtia polystachya extracts and their viability as biosensors. · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications
14.PMID: 32351779 (2020) — Multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced after forest fires improve germination and development of Eysenhardtia polystachya. · PeerJ
15.PMID: 35335370 (2022) — Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Management of Urolithiasis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence, Bioactive Compounds, and Molecular Mechanisms. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
16.PMID: 26354239 (2015) — Synthesis and functionalization of silica-based nanoparticles with fluorescent biocompounds extracted from Eysenhardtia polystachya for biological applications. · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications
17.PMID: 31670252 (2020) — Shock wave-assisted extraction of phenolic acids and flavonoids from Eysenhardtia polystachya heartwood: A novel method and its comparison with conventional methodologies. · Ultrasonics sonochemistry
18.PMID: 28024605 (2017) — Effects of extraction solvents on photoluminescent properties of eysenhardtia polystachia and their potential usage as biomarker. · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications
19.PMID: 27668038 (2016) — Properties of Flavonoids Isolated from the Bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya and Their Effect on Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Mice. · Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
20.PMID: 21609303 (2011) — Anti-inflammatory properties from isolated compounds of Cyclolepis genistoides. · Pharmaceutical biology
21.PMID: 42178400 (2026) — Phytochemical, morpho-anatomical and histochemical characterization of Cyclolepis genistoides (asteraceae). · Protoplasma
22.PMID: 36685306 (2023) — Medicinal plants used by rural communities in the arid zone of Viesca and Parras Coahuila in northeast Mexico. · Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
23.PMID: 19586062 (2009) — Structure and formation of the fluorescent compound of Lignum nephriticum. · Organic letters
24.PMID: 22465591 (2012) — Ethnobotanical survey and antibacterial activity of plants used in the Altiplane region of Mexico for the treatment of oral cavity infections. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
25.PMID: 28828256 (2017) — Biological effects of carbon nanotubes generated in forest wildfire ecosystems rich in resinous trees on native plants. · PeerJ