Sarsaparilla

Parts Usually Used

Root, rhizome

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

A tropical American perennial plant; its long, creeping, tuberous rootstock (rhizome) produces a vine which trails on the ground and climbs by means of tendrils growing in pairs from the petioles of the alternate, orbicular to ovate, evergreen leaves. The small greenish white flowers grow in axillary umbels; on separate shorter stalks, followed by purple-black berries. ) is a member of the moonseed family

Where Found

Found in woodlands in southern Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia and south, east of the Rocky Mountains to Georgia and Colorado, in mountains in southern parts of its range.

Medicinal Properties

Carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic, alterative, demulcent, antisyphilitic, stimulant, antiscorbutic. antispasmodic, antirheumatic

Biochemical Information

Copper, fat, glycosides, iron, manganese, traces of essential oil, parillin, sitosterol stigmasterin, resin, saponins, sarsaponin, sodium, sugar, sulfur, vitamin A and D, and zinc.

Legends, Myths and Stories

Carbonated beverage was made with sarsaparilla some years ago. Native to Central America. At the turn of the century, sarsaparilla was a popular flavor in root beer and soft drinks, and once a popular ingredient of many alcoholic beverages. A simple recipe for root beer: brew a combination of sarsaparilla and sassafras in boiling water for 20 minutes (about 4 oz. to a gallon). Strain and add 1 lb.

honey or sugar to sweeten, and brewer’s yeast. Keep covered in a warm place at about 68 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or two until small bubbles start to rise, showing that fermentation has begun. Decant into bottles and tightly cap. Wait 24 hours before drinking. There has been a mystique about this controversial herb since it was brought to Europe from the New World by Spanish traders in the 1600s.

Originally, it was used to treat syphilis but it soon became known as a tonic for male sexual potency. Some herbalists say it contains steroid-like compounds, saponin glycosides, that contain male hormones. This has never been proven, but these substances appear to stimulate the body’s metabolic processes. Recently, it has been marketed as a “male herb” that can increase muscle mass much the same way as steroids can.

But there is no evidence to back up this claim. Because of lack of research, it is very difficult to tell fact from fiction. All that is known is that for centuries different cultures have used this herb in surprisingly similar ways. Today, this herb is being used in the United States by bodybuilders who state they have better workouts when they use Simlax (from the botanical name Simlax officinalis).

Sarsaparilla is used as a nonsteroidal method of increasing muscle mass and is also believed to be an aphrodisiac. But, chemical analysis has not found any evidence of testosterone or other male hormones in the herb. The Native American women took the root of sarsaparilla, cut it into little pieces, boiled it, and washed their hair in this water. Dramatic results in treating cases of baldness have reported excellent results of hair growth when using this method.

One of the most successful treatments of 16 out of 21 cases was that of a 78-year-old man, completely bald for 30 years.

Uses

Historically, herbalists classified sarsaparilla root as a blood purifier and often administered it as a spring tonic. Traditional practitioners used it internally for joint and inflammatory complaints such as gout, rheumatism, and arthritis, as well as for colds, fevers, catarrhal issues, and flatulence. It was also employed in traditional medicine for digestive ailments, liver complaints, kidney and bladder disorders like cystitis, and to promote perspiration and urination.

Folk traditions utilized the root for hormonal balance, energy, and reproductive complaints, including impotence and leukorrhea. Externally, teas, washes, and poultices made from the dried rhizomes were applied to wounds, ulcers, and various skin conditions, such as ringworm, tetters, psoriasis, and fever blisters, or used as an eyewash.

How Sold

Sold under the name of Simlax

Bibliography

, Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994 The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A. , Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 Indian Herbalogy of North America , by Alma R. , Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973 Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements , by James F.

D. and Phyllis A. , 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014, first printed by the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, in 1928, this Dover edition 1974 An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants , by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992). Old Ways Rediscovered , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988 The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living , by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co.

(1988). The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. , Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , Copyright 1988, published 1992 The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc.

, 1974