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I moved this from the Cure is in the food thread for more to read. Hardly any posts in the Alternative forum. So here it is.
Chaparral
Though not controversial at all among Naive American curanderos, a few writers dispute the healing benifits of another important anticancer botanical. Chaparral, popularly known as creosote bush or greasewood, is a desert bush that grows abundantly in California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Its botanical name Larrea divaricata. Alma R. Hutchens reported that chaparral is an Indian name reffering to over one hundred different botanical plant types.
The pharmacological history of chaparral is impressive. Many sources report a story of an elderly man who had had three operations for a melanoma. When it recurred, he refused a fourth operation and drank chaparral tea. The growth disappeared; and over the course of many months, he regained twenty-five pounds.
A local woman with ovarian cancer had been given six months to live by her surgeon. She took chaparral in capsule form, went back to her surgeon who, astonished to see her still alive, recommended a second look operation. No evidence of cancer was found during this procedure. When she stopped by to see me, she expressed disappointment that the surgeon failed to show an interest in chaparral. She fished around asking me what I thought; I said that I should be asking her for advice.
Many years ago, a chiropractor with whom I was well acquainted used chaparral for many months. In addition to having cancer of the gall bladder, she had been bitten by a centipede. Doctors recommended amputatiion of her arm. She refused and was completely healed of both conditions. She is still alive, apporximately thirty years after her ordeal.
Native Americans placed the leaves and twigs of chaparral into a vessel and poured boiling water over them and let the brew stand overnight. They drank a small amount before meals and at bedtime. Heated mixtures of chaparral in combination with other herbs can be used as poultices and plasters.
In the scientific community, attention has been focused on chaparral's active constituent, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is used as an antioxidant in fats and oils. Laboratory studies conducted on rats showed that chaparral effectively prevented colon cancer in 9 out of 14 rats given a chemical carcinogen. In another study, done in India, it showed 83% effectiveness. Many studies have indicated similar protective properties as well as the capacity to inhibit cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. NDGA also inhibits antibacterial and antiviral activiey. Research at NCI showed that chaparral is a "very active agent against cancer."
One theroy of chaparral's action is that is acts to convert fermentation processes that are out of balance. Dr. John Christopher conjectured that chaparral stimulated the growth of healthy cells in such a way that unhealthy cells died and were pushed out of the body. Dr. William Kelley theroized that chaparral chelated toxins out of the body, especially from the liver and pancreas. Other sources report that chaparral inhibits the electron transport system of tumors so that they are deprived of the energy they need to exist.
Chaparral contains gums and resins as well as significant amounts of protein. It is antiseptic and tonifying and can therefor be used to purify as well as to rebuild. It has been known to improve eyesight and hair growth and to reduce infections as well as tumors. It is particularly valued in cases of leukemia, but is widely used in many other forms of cancer as well.
The herb is highly regarded among Native Americans whose first response to discovery of cancer is often a quest for local sources of the herb. Though chaparral is nontoxic, the FDA has asked that it be taken off the market. Local people in my part of the country are not aware of the FDA's recommendation and continue to consume it in fairly heavy doses despite its rather awful taste and smell.
From the book "Cancer Salves" by Ingrid Naiman
Chaparral
Though not controversial at all among Naive American curanderos, a few writers dispute the healing benifits of another important anticancer botanical. Chaparral, popularly known as creosote bush or greasewood, is a desert bush that grows abundantly in California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Its botanical name Larrea divaricata. Alma R. Hutchens reported that chaparral is an Indian name reffering to over one hundred different botanical plant types.
The pharmacological history of chaparral is impressive. Many sources report a story of an elderly man who had had three operations for a melanoma. When it recurred, he refused a fourth operation and drank chaparral tea. The growth disappeared; and over the course of many months, he regained twenty-five pounds.
A local woman with ovarian cancer had been given six months to live by her surgeon. She took chaparral in capsule form, went back to her surgeon who, astonished to see her still alive, recommended a second look operation. No evidence of cancer was found during this procedure. When she stopped by to see me, she expressed disappointment that the surgeon failed to show an interest in chaparral. She fished around asking me what I thought; I said that I should be asking her for advice.
Many years ago, a chiropractor with whom I was well acquainted used chaparral for many months. In addition to having cancer of the gall bladder, she had been bitten by a centipede. Doctors recommended amputatiion of her arm. She refused and was completely healed of both conditions. She is still alive, apporximately thirty years after her ordeal.
Native Americans placed the leaves and twigs of chaparral into a vessel and poured boiling water over them and let the brew stand overnight. They drank a small amount before meals and at bedtime. Heated mixtures of chaparral in combination with other herbs can be used as poultices and plasters.
In the scientific community, attention has been focused on chaparral's active constituent, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is used as an antioxidant in fats and oils. Laboratory studies conducted on rats showed that chaparral effectively prevented colon cancer in 9 out of 14 rats given a chemical carcinogen. In another study, done in India, it showed 83% effectiveness. Many studies have indicated similar protective properties as well as the capacity to inhibit cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. NDGA also inhibits antibacterial and antiviral activiey. Research at NCI showed that chaparral is a "very active agent against cancer."
One theroy of chaparral's action is that is acts to convert fermentation processes that are out of balance. Dr. John Christopher conjectured that chaparral stimulated the growth of healthy cells in such a way that unhealthy cells died and were pushed out of the body. Dr. William Kelley theroized that chaparral chelated toxins out of the body, especially from the liver and pancreas. Other sources report that chaparral inhibits the electron transport system of tumors so that they are deprived of the energy they need to exist.
Chaparral contains gums and resins as well as significant amounts of protein. It is antiseptic and tonifying and can therefor be used to purify as well as to rebuild. It has been known to improve eyesight and hair growth and to reduce infections as well as tumors. It is particularly valued in cases of leukemia, but is widely used in many other forms of cancer as well.
The herb is highly regarded among Native Americans whose first response to discovery of cancer is often a quest for local sources of the herb. Though chaparral is nontoxic, the FDA has asked that it be taken off the market. Local people in my part of the country are not aware of the FDA's recommendation and continue to consume it in fairly heavy doses despite its rather awful taste and smell.
From the book "Cancer Salves" by Ingrid Naiman