CREOSOTE BUSH
Larrea divaricata
COMMON NAMES: Chaparral, chaparro, creosote bush, greasewood, gobonadora, dwarf evergreen oak.
FEATURES: Chaparral is a Native American term referring to over one hundred different botanical plant
types growing in alkali soil in small, narrow strips to areas over one hundred square miles in the
southwestern part of the United States. Beginning at La Jolla, California, extends eastward through
California across Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The dark green stems and leaves (if drought season, pale or yellowish green) of creosote bush (Larrea
divaricata), one of the many chaparral species, create a 4–8 foot miniature desert-forest. Distinguished
from the usual gray-green color of the other desert species. The strong-scented leaves are opposite and
are divided into two leaflets. The bright yellow, five-petaled flowers, ½ or more inches across, appear in
spring and winter. The fruit is rounded, up to about ¼ inch long, and is covered with white hairs.
The leaves and stems of creosote bush contain a generous supply of gums and resins, protein, partially
characterized esters, acids, alcohol, a small amount of mixture of sterols, sucrose, and a very small
amount of volatile oils. No alkaloids were detected and it is nontoxic.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Leaves, stems.
SOLVENT: Hot water (partial solvent).
BODILY INFLUENCE: Antiseptic, diuretic, expectorant, tonic.
USES: In 1848 the U.S.-Mexican boundary commission is reported to have brought creosote bush to the
attention of the medical profession as treatment for internal conditions of rheumatism; mixed with
sarsaparilla for venereal nodes and chancre. Generations earlier the Native Americans of the
southwestern areas were using the plant for various symptoms. More recently, in October 1967, after
three previously surgically removed growths, an eighty-five-year-old man refused medical treatment on
the fourth, recurrent, growth, documented as malignant melanoma, in favor of “chaparral tea,” an old
Native American remedy. Of this tea he drank 2–3 cups a day. In September 1968 he was reexamined and
it was found that the growth had decreased from the size of a large lemon to that of a dime. No other
medication was used than the chaparral tea. In eleven months he had gained a needed 25 pounds, with
accompanying improvement in general health, as previous to the chaparral treatment he was pale, weak,
and lethargic.
The above case seems to suggest the rediscovery of the desert plant through publications of health
magazines advocating natural medicines.
Personal and professional cases appearing in the magazines have added to its modern list of uses: acne
and skin conditions of warts and blotches, arthritis, cancer, chronic backache, increase of hair growth,
improvement of eyesight, increase of bowel elimination (though not laxative), kidney infection, leukemia,
prostate gland trouble, skin cancer, sinus, stomach cancer, throat, bronchial and pulmonary conditions,
weight reducing.
CLINICALLY: Probable mechanism of anticancer action is thought to be the most active ingredient,
nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), which has the qualities to convert fermentation processes thought to
be out of balance.