Chaparral
Botanical Name: Name
Botanical Name:
Name
Botanical name:
Name
Family:
Family
Appearance:
Short tree
Origins:
California
Active constituents:
- Antioxidants
Healing properties:
Chaparral is a plant whose leaf is used to make medicine, but there are serious safety concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have advised consumers against using products containing chaparral due to these concerns. Despite warnings, chaparral is still available in the U.S. Chaparral is not permitted by Health Canada because it is not an authorized natural health product. Chaparral is sometimes an ingredient in diluted homeopathic preparations. The safety concerns do not generally apply to homeopathic preparations containing chaparral due to the extreme dilution concentrations used in homeopathy.
Chaparral is used for digestion problems including cramps and gas; respiratory tract conditions including colds and infections; and ongoing chronic skin disorders. It is also used for cancer, arthritis, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, central nervous system conditions, chickenpox, parasite infections, obesity, and snakebite pain. Some people use chaparral for detoxification, or as a tonic or "blood purifier."