CHAPARRAL SIDE EFFECTS AND  BENEFITS
zhion@zhion.com JUNE 13, 2006
DO NOT TAKE CHAPARRAL

THE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS OF CHAPARRAL

HEPATITIS AND LIVER DEMAGE Chaparral was widely used during the
1950s as a food preservative and to preserve naturals fibers. In 1960s, it
was reported that chaparral caused serious side effects and toxicities
including renal and hepatoxicity. [8]

At the end of 1992, FDA issued a warning against the use of chaparral,
because this herb was linked to five cases of hepatitis. [1] Furthermore,
researchers found that kava-kava, chaparral, and germander cause liver
toxicity, and elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate
aminotransferase, and bilirubin concentrations in a healthy individual taking
such herbal products. [2] Recently, a young, previously healthy woman also
developed severe acute hepatitis after consumption of chaparral tablets.
Primary liver biopsy showed severe toxic hepatitis consistent with previous
reports of chaparral-induced liver damage.[3]

CANCER? Nordihydroguaiaretic acid is an antioxidant used experimentally to
induce cystic renal disease in rats. It may be extracted from the leaves of the
creosote bush, which are consumed as chaparral tea in the southwestern
United States. Researchers reported a case of cystic renal disease and cystic
adenocarcinoma of the kidney associated with a history of protracted
consumption of chaparral tea. [4]

ABOUT CHAPARRAL (Larrea v. sp.)

It has been believed that chaparral herb has health benefits on these
conditions:  cancer, venereal disease, arthritis, rheumatism, tuberculosis,
colds, stomach disorders and skin infections. [5]

The key ingredient of the plant is Nordihydriguaiaretic acid [a phenolic
compound]; it is an immune stimulating polysaccharides and it may have  
antitumor properties. [5,6] Researchers found that nordihydroguaiaretic acid
inhibited the colon cancer cell line HT29 butyrate-mediated proliferation [7].

References:

[1] Lalitha Thomas, 10 Essential Herbs, Second Edition, Lalitha
Thomas DBA Good Marketing L.L.C. Hohm Press.[2]  Dasgupta A,
Bernard DW.Herbal remedies: effects on clinical laboratory
tests.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2006 Apr;130(4):521-8.  [3] Kauma H,
Toxic acute hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis after consumption of
chaparral tablets.Scand J Gastroenterol. 2004 Nov;39(11):1168-71.
  [4] Smith AY et al Cystic renal cell carcinoma and acquired renal
cystic disease associated with consumption of chaparral tea: a case
report.J Urol. 1994 Dec;152(6 Pt 1):2089-91.[5] Chaparral herb
extract Liquid Herb Native Essence Herb Co.
www.naturesalternatives.com. [6] Youngren JF et al,
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) inhibits the IGF-1 and
c-erbB2/HER2/neu receptors and suppresses growth in breast
cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 Nov;94(1):37-46.[7]
Galfi P et al, Sensitization of colon cancer cell lines to
butyrate-mediated proliferation inhibition by combined application of
indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Cancer Detect Prev.
2005;29(3):276-85. Epub 2005 Feb 17.  [8] Arteaga S,
Andrade-Cetto A, Cardenas R.Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush), an
abundant plant of Mexican and US-American deserts and its
metabolite nordihydroguaiaretic acid.J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr
26;98(3):231-9.