Chaparral

Introduction

Chaparral comes from the leaves of a bush that grows in the Southwest United States. It has been used as an antioxidant to slow damage to cells. Current research does not support its safety. It can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be used as an extract.

What Research Shows

There is not enough data to support that chaparral is helpful in treating health problems. We will review future studies as they are published.

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is not safe to take chaparral. The FDA does not currently recommend taking chaparral as it may cause liver damage. ^{A, B}

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse, such as:

• People taking blood thinners or medicine to break up blood clots should talk to their doctors before taking chaparral. It may increase the risk of bleeding.