In a few words, medical science believes creosote bush supports the system via the respiratory process
by inhibiting unwanted rapid growth.
The magazine articles suggested a dose ranging from one tablet with each meal to as many as ten tablets
every hour. Other instructions came from the following Native American use.
DOSE: Place 1 tablespoonful of creosote bush leaves and small twigs into a glass screw-top jar. Pour 1
pint of boiling water over this, cover, and let stand overnight. Do not refrigerate, do not remove surface
sediment. Drink a quarter of the liquid ½ hour before each meal and at bedtime.
To those for whom the strong taste of creosote is unpleasant as a tea, tablets are available. When using
the loose tea in the above amounts, approximately 40 percent of the active ingredient is utilized with total
daily intake around 200–250 milligrams. Herbalists combine other herbs with creosote bush as case
requires.
EXTERNALLY: Papago, Pima, and Maricopa tribes of the southwestern states boiled the leaves and
branches for bruises and rheumatism. In some areas salt was added to the boiled herb for the above. The
dry heated leaves and branches were applied as a poultice for chest and other body pain. Young branches
were sharpened, placed in the fire until hot, then inserted into tooth cavities to relieve pain.
VETERINARY: After the resins have been obtained for Commercial use as a preservative, the leaf residue
is fed to livestock. It contains as much protein as alfalfa.
“In springtime if an old cow can pull through until the creosote bush puts out tender shoots she will get
fat, shed off her old rough winter coat, and be glossy and pretty in four weeks, and she will bring her calf
and be able to nurse it into a fine animal. This drama of life I have witnessed year after year for the past
50 or more.”—Ralph W. Davis, N.D.