Chaparral Leaf

What is a chaparral leaf? 

The word "chaparral" refers to a place where plants can handle weather, sun, and fire, but Larrea tridentata doesn't usually grow there. The chaparrals are a group of closely related wild trees that grow in the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, as well as in dry parts of South America like Argentina and Bolivia. In health food shops, chaparral goods are generally made of leaves and sticks. The bush has branches and can grow up to 2 to 6 m tall. It has small, dark green leaves that turn bright green after it rains and feel like resin.

How do I use chaparral leaf?

Chaparral, a botanical extract, has been purported to possess a multitude of advantageous properties, including scavenging free radicals, aiding in weight loss, promoting liver health, purifying the blood, enhancing immunity (including against cancer and HIV infection), and treating skin disorders.

Chaparral herb benefits:

Most of the time, chaparral has been used to treat cancer, pimples, gout, and diabetes. It has also been praised for its ability to fight free radicals, clean the blood, and help people lose weight. These uses have not been backed by clinical studies.

◉ Weight Loss: People say that chaparral is a great way to lose weight. There is some proof that this herb's antioxidant power works well to stop fats and oils in our bodies from turning rancid. That could help get rid of a lot of the fat in our bodies so they don't get kept. But there is no hard proof to show that chaparral makes people lose or gain weight. 

◉ Cleansing of Blood: In the past, chaparral was used to clean the blood of toxins and other impurities. We can see where this comes from, since vitamin C is an antioxidant. Native Americans used it to treat things like snake bites and parasites in the blood. You can get some health benefits from it, but we don't think you should add it to a detox recipe without professional help. 

◉ Anti-Inflammation: Studies on mice and anecdotal proof show that NDGA helps reduce the inflammation that comes with arthritis. People think that it can stop the damage that free radicals do to fats and cells, which can lead to chronic illnesses.

◉ Skin Infections: Because chaparral is so good at fighting infections and works much better as a direct treatment, it is great for all kinds of skin diseases and skin problems. Here is where this plant really stands out. Native Americans in the Southwest used to mix the sap with other things to make sunscreen, and it does block some of the sun's UV rays. It has saponins and a lot of vitamins that can help treat skin problems like dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, warts, and more. You can use the cream to ease dryness around joints and get the benefits of an anti-inflammatory.

Where can I buy chaparral leaf?

Buy chaparral leaf from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Chaparral leaf information (at a glance):