Chaparral Tincture
 
Chaparral (Larrea tridentata), also known as creosote bush, is an evergreen desert shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Recognizable by its small resinous leaves, yellow flowers, and distinctive fragrance after desert rain, chaparral has a long and complex history in North American herbal traditions.
An Herb of the American Southwest
 
Long before chaparral appeared in modern American herbal practice, Indigenous communities of the American Southwest and northern Mexico used creosote bush in a variety of traditional preparations. Historical ethnobotanical records document the use of different parts of the plant in teas, washes, poultices, and other preparations for numerous purposes.
 
As knowledge of the plants of the American West entered broader herbal practice, chaparral became increasingly familiar to American herbalists. By the twentieth century, chaparral preparations were widely available as herbal products in the United States.
 
Today, chaparral remains an important part of the botanical history of the American Southwest and an example of a traditional plant whose long history of use should be considered alongside modern safety information.
 
Botanical Characteristics
 
Chaparral naturally contains numerous botanical compounds, including nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a naturally occurring lignan with antioxidant activity.
 
Our Chaparral Tincture is a traditional liquid herbal extract prepared from Larrea tridentata in grain ethanol and distilled water.
 
A Note on Chaparral's Modern History
Chaparral became the subject of significant safety scrutiny in the United States during the early 1990s after reports of liver injury associated with chaparral products. In 1992, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public advisory concerning internal chaparral use, after which many manufacturers voluntarily removed chaparral products from the market.
 
The history is more nuanced than is sometimes presented. Reviews of reported cases found that most involved capsules or tablets, while relatively few involved traditional water preparations such as tea. The exact preparations, amounts, duration of use, and other factors were not well characterized in many of the reports, making it difficult to determine precisely what contributed to individual adverse reactions.
Nevertheless, serious liver injury has been associated with chaparral use. Because of this history, we believe customers should be aware of both chaparral's traditional botanical history and the modern safety concerns surrounding its internal use.
 
Suggested Use:
Because chaparral has been associated with serious liver injury, consult a qualified healthcare professional experienced with botanical medicines before internal use.
Shake well before use and follow the serving directions provided on the bottle.
 
Tinctures are concentrated herbal extracts and may produce a warming or burning sensation when taken directly under the tongue. The tincture may be diluted in water or another beverage if desired.
 
Ingredients:
Chaparral (Larrea tridentata), grain ethanol, and distilled water.
 
Important Safety Information
Chaparral has been associated with rare but potentially serious liver injury and should be used with appropriate caution.
 
Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing.
Do not use if you have liver disease or a history of liver problems unless specifically directed by a qualified healthcare professional.
 
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use if you have kidney disease, take prescription or over-the-counter medications, have another medical condition, or are under medical supervision.
Discontinue use and seek medical advice if unusual fatigue, nausea, fever, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes occurs.
 
Keep out of reach of children.
 
Traditional Herbal References
 
Historical and traditional-use information is provided for educational context and is not intended to suggest that this product should be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
 
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory
 
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.