Botanical Names
- Family Zygophyllaceae
- Larrea tridentata
- Larrea divaricata
Common Names
- Creosote Bush, Greasewood
- Spanish: Gobernadora, Hediondilla, Goma de Sonora
Cautions
- In 1992, four people, who were taking large doses of the herb in capsule form, developed hepatitis. The resulting scare caused the Herbal Products Association, responding to a press release by the USFDA, to issue a letter recommending the sale of the herb be suspended. After further studies, no scientific basis for the warning was discovered, and it was rescinded in 1995.
- It should be noted that extended use may be toxic to the liver.
Description
This tall, thorny shrub is found in large numbers in the deserts bordering the US and Mexico, reaching six feet in height and producing small, finely divided, olive green leaves, which exude a nasty, shiny, smelly resin that keeps predators away. Sometimes planted ornamentally in dessert gardens, its yellow flowers give way to fuzzy white fruits resembling cotton balls.
Key Actions
- analgesic
- antiseptic
- antiamebic
- antioxidant
- antiviral
- antibiotic
- anticancer
- antimicrobial
- deodorant
- diuretic
- decongestant
- expectorant
Key Components
- resin (12%)
- nordihydroguaiaretic acid
- flavonoids
- vitamins and minerals (especially, calcium, potassium, selenium, thiamin, and vitamins A and C)
Medicinal Parts
- Aerial parts
Traditional Uses
Modern herbalists value it as a powerful weapon against infection and in a tea to clear the lymph system.
Chaparral is reportedly effective in treating a variety of conditions, including arthritis, rheumatism, bruises, diarrhea, stomach problems, influenza, venereal disease, and even cancer.
It is also used to treat skin abrasions, insect bites, ringworm, rheumatism, urinary tract problems, and body odor.
Taken internally, it is used for such skin infections as acne and eczema.
It can also be incorporated into a lotion and used for sores, wounds, and rashes.
Topically, chaparral has been used to treat toothaches, and may be effective in preventing cavities.
A related species, the South American L. nitida, is used to counter indigestion, to induce menstruation, and to treat wounds.
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