Chaparral is a plant that grows in the desert regions of Mexico and the southwest United States. It has a long medicinal history and has been used by Native Americans to treat skin sores, inflammatory disorders, rheumatism, diabetes, tuberculosis, colds, venereal disease, and cancer. Chaparral tea has been employed to treat kidney and gallbladder stones.
However, evidence on whether it can treat any medical condition is lacking. Although lab studies suggest an active compound in chaparral, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), has antiviral, anticancer, and antiparasitic properties, a clinical trial found chaparral was ineffective as an anticancer agent.
Because several patients who regularly drank chaparral tea developed kidney cysts, kidney cancer, and liver damage, chaparral products are not recommended. The FDA removed NDGA, formerly used as a food additive in low concentrations, from its "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) substances list. Also Masoprocol, a topical cream containing NDGA for the treatment of actinic keratoses, was withdrawn from the US market in June 1996.
Chaparral is an ingredient in black salve, which is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment.