Chaparral – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Friday, July 21, 2017 by Jhoanna Robinson

Chaparral, which has the scientific names Larrea tridentata and Larrea divaricata and belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae, grows abundant across the areas of the southwestern United States, Northern Mexico, and some countries in South America like Argentina and Bolivia. It is known by other names like gobernadora, goma de sonora, and hediondiolla.

Chaparral is an herb that is blessed with long life; chaparral colonies are said to live longer than 10,000 years. Ever since ancient men discovered it, chaparral has long been used for medicinal purposes, and is thought to provide insights on how to adapt to the environment – due to its long life – and current issues like pollution and stress.

List of known nutrients

Calcium
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Potassium
Selenium
Thiamin
Vitamin A
Vitamin C

Medicinal uses for chaparral

Chaparral has analgesic, antiseptic, antiamebic, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, and expectorant properties.

Native Americans have long used chaparral to relieve and aid in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, kidney stones, respiratory disorders, stomach cramps, diarrhea, indigestion, influenza, venereal diseases like herpes, and tuberculosis. It can also be used to induce menstruation.

Chaparral has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and can be used to treat cuts, wounds, burns, and sores. It is also widely used to treat dandruff, greasy scalp, acne, and eczema, and can neutralize parasites that find their way into your body, thus lessening the risk of disease and infection.

Chaparral can fight cancer-causing elements. It contains nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), which is a kind of antioxidant that can safeguard tissues and cells from damage due to exposure to carcinogens, thus hindering you from developing abdomen, kidney, or liver cancer or tumors. Experts believe that the presence of NDGA in chapparal may be its secret to a long life.

Chaparral can reduce inflammation. Because it can help ease the inflamed parts of the body, it can help treat, as was mentiioned earlier, arthritis, and also chicken pox and gout.

Chaparral prevents aging. It fights free radicals and gets rid of harmful oxidative metabolic byproducts, thus helping you maintain your youthful and healthy glow.

Chaparral is good for oral health. Despite tasting like someone’s wet socks, it is actually used to prevent the proliferation of bacteria that causes tooth decay and gingivitis.

Chaparral can also clear nasal air passageways by thinning the mucus that obstructs these halls. For best results, drink chaparral in tea form to alleviate the effects of respiratory issues such as bronchitis or colds.

Body systems supported by chaparral

Chaparral is good for the digestive system. Chaparral caters to it in such a way that gastrointestinal issues like gas, bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, indigestion can be addressed.

Chaparral ensures that your cicrulatory system is functioning well. It can be a reliable tool in purifying the blood and increasing blood flow in the body. It also aids in detoxifying the body.

Ways to use chaparral

Chaparral can be used as a tincture or salve to treat minor wounds and cuts. Chaparral in liquid form can be applied to the skin daily as long as you do not feel any adverse effects that could result from this practice.

If you seek to treat disorders or diseases of the internal kind, you can take chaparral either via capsule or tea form. However, a little caution should be applied if you plan to take chaparral internally, as the United States Food and Drug Administration has taken the herb off its list of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) products back in 1968. Chaparral should also be avoided by people with chronic kidney and liver conditions.