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Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii and other closely related species of Smilax) is a vine that bears long and tuberous
roots with many useful properties. These vines have long prickly stems and shiny leaves, and numerous reddish-brown
roots up to 3 m long. Several species of Smilax are used, but the Jamaican (Smilax regelii (syn. S. officinalis) is
the species preferred for commercial use. Sarsaparilla is also grown in Mexico, Central America and parts of South
America. It is also grown in parts of South India. The main uses include the flavouring of beverages, and
homeopathic medicine.
Herbal medicine use:
Sarsaparilla root has been used for centuries by the indigenous peoples of Central and South America for sexual
impotence, rheumatism, skin ailments, and as a general tonic for physical weakness. It has long been used by
tribes in Peru and Honduras for headaches and joint pain, and against the common cold. Many shamans and medicine
men in the Amazon use sarsaparilla root internally and externally for leprosy and other skin problems (such as
psoriasis and dermatitis.) Leprosy can be common in areas where the disease is carried by armadillos (and in the
Amazon, armadillos are "on the menu" in indigenous diets). Sarsaparilla root also was used as a general tonic by
indigenous tribes in South America, where New World traders found it and introduced it into European medicine in
the 1400s.
European physicians considered sarsaparilla root a tonic, blood purifier, diuretic, and sweat promoter. A Smilax
root from Mexico was introduced into European medicine in 1536, where it developed a strong following as a cure
for syphilis and rheumatism. Since this time, Smilax roots have had a long history of use for syphilis and other
sexually transmitted diseases throughout the world. With its reputation as a blood purifier, it was registered as
an official herb in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as a syphilis treatment from 1820 to 1910. From the 1500s to the
present, sarsaparilla has been used as a blood purifier and general tonic and also has been used worldwide for
gout, syphilis, gonorrhea, rheumatism, wounds, arthritis, fever, cough, scrofula, hypertension, digestive
disorders, psoriasis, skin diseases, and cancer.
Current practical uses:
In naturopathic and herbal medicine, it is used mostly in combination with other herbs for its tonic, detoxifying,
blood purifying, and lymph-cleansing properties. In retail stores and products, it can be found as an ingredient
in various herbal remedies made for skin disorders, libido enhancement, hormone balancing, and sports nutrition
formulas. It is also commonly used in herbal preparations as a synergist or bioavailability aid—as it is thought
that the saponins in sarsaparilla root increase the absorption of other chemicals in the gut. No known toxicity or
side-effects have been documented for sarsaparilla; however, ingestion of large dosages of saponins may cause
gastrointestinal irritation.
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