Chaparral
CHAPARRAL | GOBERNADORA
Chaparral is a dusty, resinous desert (s)hero that has been thriving in the harshest conditions of the American Southwest and northern Mexico for thousands of years, outliving civilizations, shaping ecosystems, and storing medicine in every inch of its gnarled, green body. Known botanically as Larrea tridentata, this plant is a desert elder. Some individual plants are over 11,000 years old, making them among the oldest living organisms on earth.
Indigenous peoples of the Southwest - such as the Cahuilla, Pima, Yavapai, Apache, and Tohono O’odham - have used chaparral for generations as a powerful medicine for the body and spirit. Traditionally, it was used for everything from respiratory infections, wounds, and inflammation, to cancer-like growths, fungal infections, and detoxification rituals. The leaves were boiled into teas, applied as poultices, burned in cleansing ceremonies, and even chewed to relieve pain or infection. And while modern science has been hesitant due to its potency, folk medicine never forgot: chaparral is not casual—it’s serious medicine for serious conditions.
What gives chaparral its legendary power is NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial compound that’s been shown to fight bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even cancer cells in lab studies. But it’s not just about biochemistry, chaparral is deeply symbolic in Indigenous cosmologies. It’s the plant that survives extreme heat, drought, and scarcity, and still gives generously to its ecosystem. Its aroma alone - sharp, smoky, earthy - is enough to stop you in your tracks and remind you, this is sacred ground.
By the 1800s, Mexican and Anglo-American herbalists had adopted chaparral into broader folk medicine, and it became a staple of "blood-purifying" formulas, cancer salves, and lung tonics in the desert Southwest. In the 20th century, it even appeared in health food stores as a detox herb- though controversy over potential liver toxicity from concentrated extracts led to regulatory pushback.
Today, chaparral remains both revered and misunderstood. Herbalists who work bio-regionally - with respect for the land and the people who’ve lived on it longest - still use it, often externally or in carefully prepared teas, and always with intention. It’s a plant that requires slowness, ceremony, and deep listening. You don’t use chaparral lightly, it’s not for casual colds or trendy cleanses. You use it when you need protection, purification, and a reminder of resilience born through fire.
Chaparral doesn’t just heal the body- it teaches you how to survive what should’ve broken you.
Medicinal Uses of Chaparral
Antimicrobial and Antifungal
Contains NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), a powerful compound with strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties
Traditionally used to treat skin infections, fungal outbreaks, athlete’s foot, and ringworm
Used in washes or poultices for cuts, boils, and infected wounds
Liver and Blood Detoxification (Traditional Use)
Considered a “blood purifier” in Indigenous and folk traditions
Used in cleansing protocols to help eliminate toxins, particularly after illness, infection, or chronic inflammation
May support the body’s natural detox pathways—used with caution due to potential liver strain
Cancer Support (Folk Use)
Used traditionally to address tumor-like growths and in external salves for skin lesions, sores, or suspicious growths
Some herbalists use chaparral as part of long-term support protocols for degenerative conditions—but always with professional oversight
Anti-inflammatory and Pain Relief
Reduces joint and muscle inflammation
Used topically to ease arthritis, rheumatism, bruises, and sprains
Infused into oils or used in soaks, compresses, or liniments
Respiratory Support
Used as a tea or steam for chest congestion, bronchitis, and lingering coughs
Acts as an expectorant, helping to loosen mucus and clear the lungs
Sometimes burned or smudged for ceremonial and respiratory clearing
Digestive and Parasitic Cleanse (Traditional Use)
Used in traditional purgative or vermifuge protocols for parasites, gut infections, and digestive sluggishness
May reduce intestinal inflammation, though internal use is highly cautious
Immune Support and Infection Recovery
Included in immune formulas to help the body fight off chronic infections, especially fungal or viral
Supports healing in people recovering from chronic inflammation, long-term illness, or exhaustion due to infection
Skin Conditions and Wound Care
Applied externally as a wash, compress, or infused oil to treat eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, bites, and rashes
Promotes antiseptic healing and can reduce irritation from topical pathogens
Common Forms of Use
Tea (light decoction): Used cautiously for cleansing protocols
Infused oil or salve: For topical treatment of skin infections, wounds, or joint pain
Tincture: Occasionally used by advanced herbalists—low dose and short term
Poultice or compress: Direct application to sores, infections, or swellings
Steam or smudge: For respiratory or energetic cleansing