Properties: Bitter, cold, toxic

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, stomach gallbladder, liver, bladder, kidneys

1. Clears Heat, drains Damp, resolves Toxicity and vents rashes
   Cold with fever, bronchitis, tuberculosis
   Diarrhea, stomach cramps and toothache due to Damp-Heat, parasitic infections,gallstones
   Diabetes and obesity
   Sores and rashes, chickenpox
   Rheumatism, arthritis, Damp-Hot Bi Syndrome
   Urinary tract infections, kidney stones
   Menstrual disorders, premenstrual syndrome
   Venereal diseases
   Central nervous system diseases
   Snake bites, cancer

Suggested Daily Dosage: 1.5g - 3.5g in infusion (1 teaspoon in 1 pint of water, 3x per day) but may still induce hepatotoxicity (Ulbrecht et al, 2003).

Cautions: Oral administration can cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and liver and kidney damage. It may also cause cancer.

External use can cause dermatitis and other reactions.

Should be avoided in pregnancy as L. divaricata has a traditional use as an abortifacient and may be present as an adulterant, even if sold as L. tridentata.

• Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (NDGA)
  A potent lipoxygenase inhibitor that interferes with arachidonic acid metabolism. The compound also inhibits formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase, carboxylesterase, and cyclooxygenase to a lesser extent. It also serves as an antioxidant in fats and oils and as an antihyperglycemic agent.
• Masoprocol
  Meso form of nordihydroguaiaretic acid with similar lipoxygenase inhibitory properties. It has antipromoter, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activities by directly inhibiting activation of the insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) and the c-erbB2/HER2/neu receptor, resulting in decreased proliferation of susceptible tumour cell populations.

Notes:

The US FDA has issued warnings about the health hazards of ingesting chaparral or using it as an internal medicine, and discourages its use. In 2005, Health Canada issued a warning to consumers to avoid using the leaves of Larrea species because of the risk of damage to the liver and kidneys. Cancer Research UK states: "We don't recommend that you take chaparral to treat or prevent any type of cancer."

However, it is still widely used as a herbal medicine in Mexico and has a long tradition of use amongst Native Americans: Those in the southwest held beliefs that it treated many maladies, including sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, chicken pox, dysmenorrhea, and snakebite; the Coahuilla used the plant for intestinal complaints and tuberculosis; the Pima drank a decoction of the leaves as an emetic, and applied the boiled leaves as poultices to wounds or sores; while the Papago prepared it medicinally for stiff limbs, snake bites, and menstrual cramps.