What does chaparral therapy involve?
Chaparral is an herb made from the leaves of a desert shrub, the creosote bush (Larrea divericata Coville). Chaparral is a traditional Native American remedy for wounds, infections, rheumatism, tuberculosis and cancer, among others. For cancer treatment, chaparral leaves and stems are steeped in hot water to make a tea. The therapy involves drinking one to three cups per day or taking the herb in tablet form. How is chaparral thought to treat cancer? Chaparral contains a compound called nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) that acts as a powerful antioxidant. Theoretically, NDGA is thought to stop tumors by preventing cancer cells from breaking down glucose to produce energy needed for cellular growth. What has been proven about the benefit of chaparral? Early studies of NDGA showed it was able to inhibit the growth of some cancer cells in rats. Human studies were not successful and concerns about NDGA’s toxicity increased after lesions on the kidneys and lymph nodes of animals were found.
