2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Sarsaparilla / Smilax officinalis / is a creeping plant resembling a vine, which belongs to the Cream family. The stem of the sarsaparilla is winding and reaches as much as 50 cm in length. Sarsaparilla has small flowers and its fruits are small, rounded and colored red. The roots of the plant are long and thin. They are reddish-brown and reach up to 2 meters in length.
There are about 350 species of sarsaparilla. The plant most often grows in tropical rainforests. It is found in Jamaica, South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Honduras and others.
History of sarsaparilla
For centuries, the local tribes of Central and South America have used sarsaparilla roots as a traditional remedy for fatigue, skin problems, rheumatism and potency problems. The tribes of Peru and Honduras used sarsaparilla roots for joint problems and severe headaches. Shamans around the Amazon once used the herb externally and internally for psoriasis and leprosy.
The tribes in South America took their roots from sarsaparillawhen they felt exhausted or with a cold. Thanks to merchants from the new world, the miraculous herb was brought to Europe. From the beginning of the sixteenth century to the present day, European healers have found more and more applications of sarsaparilla.
However, the herb is best proven in blood purification. That is why today sarsaparilla is registered as an official blood purifying herb in the US National Pharmacopoeia.
Composition of sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla is such a miraculous herb because of the many healing ingredients it contains. Essential oil, mineral salts, resins, steroid saponins, smilsaponin and sarsaponin, sarsapariloside, sarsasapogonin, smilagenin and polynastanol, etc. were found in the plant.
Collection and storage of sarsaparilla
The roots of the plant / Radix Smilax officinalis / are mainly used for medicinal purposes of sarsaparilla. They are picked before the herb blooms or after its fruits ripen. They are then cleaned of accidental impurities and debris and dried in the shade.
The best results are obtained when drying in an oven at a temperature of 40 degrees. Dried roots are stored in a dark and ventilated place, away from poisonous herbs. They are gray-brown in color, have no specific odor, but have a slimy taste.
Benefits of sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla is a valuable herb because it can cure or at least alleviate many of the diseases we face with our busy daily lives. It protects the liver, relieves rheumatism, stimulates sweating, increases urinary excretion, treats inflammation and lowers fever.
The herb has a purifying effect on the blood, fights harmful free radicals in our body, has a good effect on our overall tone and supports our immunity. It also kills fungi and bacteria and acts as a cellular protector.
Sarsaparilla is a hormonal regulator in both sexes. The herb can be easily combined with other herbs and medicines, depending on the desired effect. It is most often mixed with yarrow, birch, calendula, ragweed, ginseng, thistle, thunder, burdock, grandma's teeth, nettle, dandelion and others.
Folk medicine with sarsaparilla
In Bulgarian folk medicine, sarsaparilla is used for inflammation, sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder. It is used successfully for cystitis, blood in the urine, liver problems, loss of appetite, gonorrhea, syphilis, skin problems, gout, thorns, ovarian cysts and others.
In Latin America, the plant is used for rheumatism, arthritis, colds, digestive problems, psoriasis, various sexually transmitted diseases, impotence and acne.
IN USA sarsaparilla is a first aid for exhaustion after long illness, diabetes, burns, gout, arthritis and rheumatism. It is also used for eye infections, urination problems. The herb is also used for syphilis, vaginal discharge, infertility, stress and to remove warts.
In Mexico, sarsaparilla is most commonly used for skin problems. For local people, it is an indispensable helper in burns, eczema, skin inflammation and leprosy. They also use the drug against dyspepsia, nephritis, scrofula and even against various cancers.
In Chinese folk medicine, sarsaparilla is the preferred remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, mercury poisoning, malaria, urinary incontinence, abscesses and boils.
In Brazil, the miraculous herb is prescribed for muscle weakness, gallstones, infertility, psoriasis, gout and more.
In the UK, sarsaparilla is used for anorexia, exhaustion and abscesses. It is also used to purify the blood, syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases, as an antiseptic and diuretic.
To make sarsaparilla tea, you need to pour a tablespoon of dried root of the plant with 500 ml of water. Allow the mixture to boil for ten minutes. Take one glass of wine from the liquid, preferably before meals, three times a day.
There are already ready-made products on the market sarsaparilla. They are taken depending on the concentration of the plant and the instructions on the label.
Beer with sarsaparilla
In some parts of the world, sarsaparilla is used in the preparation of soft beer and other beverages because of its ability to form foam. In the nineteenth century, a Canadian publication published a recipe for a beer made from the root of the medicinal herb. For this purpose, take 240 grams of sarsaparilla, licorice, ginger and cinnamon.
Add another 90 grams of coriander seeds and 60 grams of cloves. All ingredients are boiled for fifteen minutes in 40 liters of water, after which the mixture is allowed to cool. The resulting liquid is filtered and mixed with 2 liters of honey. When consumed, the beer can be diluted with carbonated water. Lemon juice is added if desired.
Harms from sarsaparilla
The use of sarsaparillawithout the knowledge of a medical professional is not recommended. In large doses, taking the herb can cause gastrointestinal problems or temporary inflammation of the kidneys. People suffering from asthma should be extremely careful when using the plant, as inhaling sarsaparilla can worsen their condition.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking sarsaparilla, as its effect on the fetus and breast milk is not yet known. Patients with prostate dysfunction should also not use Smilax officinalis, as the herb may not work well for them.
If, after taking an adequate dose of sarsaparilla, you experience chest pain, nausea, dizziness, breathing problems or a rash, you should stop using the plant and seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms are most likely caused by an allergic reaction to Smilax officinalis.
