MinerAlert
Larrea tridentata
“Chaparral”, Gobernadora, Guamis, Hediondilla, Jarilla.
The leaves and twigs.
In Mexican traditional medicine, the leaves and twigs are stepped in boiling water for just a few seconds to make a tea. The tea made from this plant has a very strong, bitter taste, which usually limits its consumption. The tea is usually taken only for short periods of time, rarely more than 2 weeks. Fairly recently, however, marketing schemes recommend the use of tablets and capsules made from creosote bush leaves for internal use. The capsules and tablets have not been the usual form of consuming creosote bush for medicinal purposes, and convey a much more concentrated form of the plant and its active chemicals in comparison to the tea. For this reason, pills and capsules made from this plant are potentially more dangerous to use. Because of this, the FDA banned the sale of these products in the United States.
Internally as tea for gall bladder stones, kidney stones, venereal (sexually transmitted) diseases and some types of cancer. Factual data as to its efficacy against most of these ailments is lacking. Externally, it is employed as a wash for athlete’s foot, ringworm and other fungal skin infections, venereal disease and as a foot deodorant.
Safety/Precautions:
Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!