Creosote bush

Scientific classification: Creosote bushes belong to the family Zygophyllaceae. They constitute the genus Larrea. The name applies particularly to the species Larrea tridentata.

Creosote, the common name for Larrea tridenta, comes from the creosote like resin on its leaves and stems. This remarkable plant is also known by Native American Indians as Shegoi meaning Mother of all Plants.

Shegoi was used by Native American tribes for its medicinal uses and extraordinary healing powers; having a long and well documented history.

Today there are 4 US Patents on Global Botanics Inc., a company that has patented processes involving the use of a natural plant extract to treat genital herpes shingles and other viral infections. Global Botanics, sells a proprietary extract from the 12,000-year-old Creosote desert plant known as Larrea Tridentata.

The Creosote bush extract "Virastatin" , is designed for license to companies involved in natural, over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceutical development.

The first six commercially available products based on Virastatin were introduced late 2003 by LarreaRX, Inc., a nonexclusive licensee. The products include dietary supplements, cold sore lotions and penetrating sprays including those sold under the Virox and Shegoi brand name. Virox products have a rapidly growing retail distribution in health food stores, groceries and pharmacies in the U.S. and Canada while Shegoi products are marketed through direct marketing channels.

True creosote comes from pine tar or coal or the inside of your chimney, but certainly has nothing to do with this remarkable bush.

Common Names for this bush include
* Greasewood
* Gobernadora
* hediondilla
* Paloondo
* Kreosotstrauch
* chaparral meaning thicket of shrubs of many different kinds of plants which ironically, Creosote is not.