Chaparral Leaf

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Chaparral Leaf - 450 mg 100 capsules 516651 $19.52
Chaparral Leaf Powder 4 oz 516652 $14.35
1 oz 516653 $9.03
Chaparral Leaf Cream 2 oz 524315 $20.68
Chaparral Leaf Salve 2 oz 524316 $22.69
Chaparral Leaf Tea (Loose) 4 oz 516654 $9.24
8 oz 516655 $12.75
Chaparral Leaf Tea 25 tea bags 516656 $15.06
50 tea bags 516657 $21.99
Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) 1 oz - No Flavor 522267 $19.28
1 oz - Strawberry 522268 $21.32
1 oz - Vanilla 522269 $21.32
1 oz - Chocolate 522270 $21.32
1 oz - Mint 522271 $21.32

Medicinal Usage

Chaparral has had limited health use. Some Indians prepared a decoction (extract) from the leaves that they used to purge the body and to rejuvenate sores. In the past L. tridentata was considered synonymous with the Argentinian species L. divaricata, but most botanists now think of L. tridentata as a separate species.

Chaparral is an ingredient in an herbal tea recommended today by some folk healers as an antitussive (to help support or fight coughing), a joint pain supportive (to help ease symptoms of joint pain), and an immunity booster, but researchers cannot substantiate these claims.

Generally acknowledged as the most adaptable plant in desert regions in the United States, chaparral, or creosote bush as it is often called, endures long periods without rainfall. When rain does come, the shrub's thick leaves become sticky and emit a tarry or creosotelike smell. By some accounts, this aroma accounts for the Mexican name hediondilki, meaning "little stinker." The genus name honors the 18th-century Spaniard Juan Antonio Hernandez de Larrea, a patron of science.

In the desert and semi-desert regions of the southwestem United States, where the plant is indigenous, chaparral is sometimes found in gardens of native plants or used to ornament the landscape. Near Los Angeles, in the Johnson Valley, is an unusual specimen of this species known as the King Clone - a 25- by 70-foot bush some 12,000 years old. The large elliptical plant began as a single creosote bush after the last ice age and has grown outward over the centuries.

Habitat: Scrub deserts.

Range: Native to the southwestern United States, chaparral is found growing wild from Texas to California and south to Mexico.

Identification: A resinous, many-branched evergreen shrub growing 3-9 feet tall. Its branches are distinguished by black rings at the nodes. The leaves grow in opposite pairs; each leaf consists of two olive-green leaflets, 3/8 inch long. Yellow flowers (normally January-May, but may occur throughout the year in warmer climates) have five petals, and are followed by showy globular fruits (seed balls) that are covered with fuzzy white hairs.

Chaparral contains the powerful antioxidant nordihydroquaiaretic acid (NDGA), which has known anticarcinogenic properties.

Name

Larrea divaricata Cav, and L. mexicana Moric., Larrea tridentada (De Candolle) Coville, (Zygophyllaceae) commonly called chaparral, creosote bush, or greasewood.

Source

The name chaparral refers to an assortment of shrubs that grow in the Southwest deserts of the United States and Mexico. Active ingredients are found in the leaves and twigs.

History

Indians used a tea brewed from the leaves to help support symptoms of joint pain, respiratory health concerns, and even immunity problems. Spanish explorers brewed and drank chaparral tea in hopes of supporting (probably without much success) infections they brought with them to the New World. A compound found in the leaves, nordihydroguaiarectic acid (NDGA), is a potent antioxidant. Some thought it might be used to improve immunity. NDGA can be used as a food preservative in the United States until 1967 when, acting on evidence that chronic exposure can cause serious health problems in experimental animals, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the General Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list, and researchers gave up on the idea of using NDGA to improve immunity.

Traditional Support Uses

Febrifuge, expectorant

Commission E Recommendations

Chaparral was not reviewed by Commission E.

Possible Effects

NDGA is classified as a cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor. Drugs in this category control the formation of a group of hormones known as leukotrienes which, in turn, mediate the inflammatory process. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors can be used to help support symptoms of joint pain, and lipoxygenase inhibitors are thought to be especially important in asthma. Zileuton™, the new asthma medication from Abbott Laboratories, is a lipoxygenase inhibitor. The down side to lipoxygenase inhibitors, naturally or synthetic, is that they may cause liver damage. In addition to using chaparral for respiratory infections and joint pain, it can also be tried to help support weight loss, can be used as a burn salve, touted as a potential way to "purify" the blood and "remove toxins," and promoted as a "free radical scavenger" that can reduce aging.

Dosage

Leaves and stems contain 7 percent NGDA, along with the other chemical constituents. When teas are brewed from the leaves, only 40 percent of the NGDA is dissolved in the water (no one knows for sure about the other constituents). The lower NGDA content may explain why the teas seem to be less toxic than products prepared from the dried leaves. The effective dosage range in humans is not known with any certainty.

One half-ounce infused in a pint of boiling water or 3-6 grams of the dried leaves infused in boiling water; of the liquid extract, 10-30 drops. It should be taken at least threes times daily.



The bitter, acrid, and slightly salty chaparral leaves affect the kidney, lungs, and liver in the body. Alterative, blood purifying, antiseptic, anti-septic, expectorant, and diuretic properties are exhibited by chaparral leaves.

This herb contains a powerful antioxidant, NDGA (nordihydroquaiaretic acid), which is partially responsible for its immunity-supporting properties. It also has vasodepressant effects and will increase ascorbic acid in the adrenals. Chaparral leaves have traditionally been used to help support blood purification, antioxidant action, joint pain, coughs and colds, diarrhea, and urinary tract health concerns.

Chaparral is one of the best herbal antibiotics, being useful as a disinfectant, bloating, both internally and externally. It may be taken internally for coughs, colds, inflammation of the respiratory and intestinal tracts, diarrhea and urinary tract health concerns.

It can be taken internally either as a liquid extract, powder or tea. Its antibiotic, alterative properties are heightened when combined with other alterative herbs such as echinacea, goldenseal, garlic or usnea.

It is considered an effective immunity-enhancing herb taken either alone or in combination with other alteratives such as red clover blossoms, dandelion, echinacea, poke root, sarsaparilla, barberry root, stifiingia, burdock root and buckthorn bark.

Externally, it is an antiseptic health restoration herb when applied as a poultice or fomentation directly on wounds and injuries. A liniment made by steeping the leaves in rubbing alcohol can be directly applied on bruises and injuries and warts.

Traditional claims that chaparral is an anti-inflammatory, good for helping support respiratory infections and joint pain, may very well be true. Chemicals in chaparral leaf are lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors, no different from those now used by physicians to help support asthma and joint pain. The problem is that compounds with lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase activity, natural or synthetic, can cause liver damage. Some evidence suggests that users are less likely to get into trouble if they confine themselves to chaparral tea, which contains a lower concentration of the active ingredients than powdered leaf. Years ago, the FDA declared NDGA unsafe for human use. If the main reason for taking NDGA is to get the antioxidant, anti-aging effects, there are many other safer options. Consumers may want to consider substituting Vitamin E. It is nontoxic, and nearly as potent an antioxidant.
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corinne
ZIN: 516656 - Chaparral Leaf Tea  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2019.
  wonderful product
Audrey
ZIN: 522267 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019.
  Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) - No Flavor
Andrew
ZIN: 516654 - Chaparral Leaf Tea (Loose)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016.
  Happy
Helen
ZIN: 524315 - Chaparral Leaf Cream  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015.
  positive
Barbara
ZIN: 522268 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014.
  Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) - Strawberry Flavored
TED
ZIN: 516653 - Chaparral Leaf Powder  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2010.
  Chaparral Leaf Powder
Melody
ZIN: 524315 - Chaparral Leaf Cream  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2010.
  great service!
Marlisa
ZIN: 522269 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2010.
  Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) - Vanilla Flavored
Natalia
ZIN: 516652 - Chaparral Leaf Powder  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2010.
  good value
Sharone
ZIN: 516656 - Chaparral Leaf Tea  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2009.
  Pleased
Dunkley
ZIN: 516655 - Chaparral Leaf Tea (Loose)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2009.
  Very Pleased
summer
ZIN: 516657 - Chaparral Leaf Tea  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2006.
  Chaparral Leaf Tea
Olga
ZIN: 516651 - Chaparral Leaf - 450 mg  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2005.
  very satisfied!
Troy
ZIN: 524316 - Chaparral Leaf Salve  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2005.
  review
Novella
ZIN: 522271 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2005.
  Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) - Mint Flavored
Paulette
ZIN: 522269 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2004.
  Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5) - Vanilla Flavored
Adelle
ZIN: 522270 - Chaparral Leaf Glycerite Liquid Extract (1:5)  Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2003.
  Great Product!

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