Cancer Treatment: Chaparral - A Potential Wonder Drug?

This stinkwood , also known as chaparral or Larrea tridentata, may have an unpleasant odor but has a use that it seems to be unlikely because it is to be used as a mouthwash. Why a mouth wash in spite of its unpleasant odor? It's because this plant contains a substance which provides protection against organisms in the mouth which cause gum problems and tooth decay. This anti tooth decay and anti gum problems substance is called nordihydroquaiaretic or NDGA. Aside from being a protector against tooth and mouth problems, NDGA has been approved as a preservative for lard or shortening . In addition, NDGA is also a powerful antioxidant.

A shrub or small trees, in Southwestern US, particularly the foothills of California, chaparral is deep rooted that makes it a hardy survivor of extended limited rainfall. The Indians treated their burns by rubbing with heated chaparral leaves over them. They also treated some ailments like bronchitis, snake bites, even chicken pox with the bitter chaparral brewed tea. Toothache was treated with the application of a heated resin from the twig's tip to the problem area. It must have been so effective because the settlers from England and other countries, adopted the hot resin and other chaparral. concoction to cure various stomach ailments, arthritis, and menstrual problems

Chaparral is also potentially a good source of drug for those suffering from asthma., because NDGA has been shown to be capable of reducing inflammation in the lungs. Chaparral can also speed up liver function and improve its ability to convert fatty acids into high density cholesterol or HDL, the good cholesterol.

Among the external uses of chaparral is as anti- fungal, anti-viral agent. It has been effective in curing skin fungi, ringworm and athlete's foot, It slows down bacterial growth and kills them too. As a possible beauty product, chaparral helps dry skin, brittle hair and nails.

Chaparral is listed at the U.S. Pharmacopeia, from 1842 to 1942 as an expectorant ( to expel mucous from the respiratory system) and antiseptic. A few herbalists still use it to eliminate intestinal parasites as well as for the treatment of illnesses caused by bacteria or viruses.

Studies have been conducted to determine whether NDGA would really be effective against tooth decay and it was discovered that it not only reduced the incidence of tooth decay by 75%, it also considerably reduced the quantity of microorganisms in the mouth that cause bad breath and gum disease. Gum disease can cause the loss of adult teeth. Aside from these new found uses of chaparral, there are also informal evidences at the National Cancer Institute claiming that cancer has been cured by chaparral.

Advocates believe that even with its unpleasant taste, which luckily doesn't last long, chaparral has the potential to be an effective mouthwash.