Medical Condition Library

Information Centers

Wellness Centers

Helpful Resources

Chaparral

Home | Health Information Center | Natural & Alternative Treatments | Herbs & Supplements | Article

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.

Dosages

There aren’t any advised doses for chaparral.

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.

References►

A. Teschke R, Wolff A, et al. Herbal hepatotoxicity: a tabular compilation of reported cases. Liver Int. 2012 Nov;32(10):1543-1556.

B. Bunchorntavakul C, Reddy KR. Review article: herbal and dietary supplement hepatotoxicity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Jan;37(1):3-17.

Last reviewed May 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
Last Updated: 6/9/2020

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.