Sarsaparilla plant comes with a medicinal root. It is beneficial to medicinal professionals all around the world to treat a variety of diseases like skin ailments, cold, flu, liver, and kidney disease. Sarsaparilla root also treats syphilis, which is one of the most commonly occurring Sexually Transmitted diseases that affect more than 100,000 people in the United States.
Sarsaparilla herb has been used for centuries to cure leprosy because of its properties that purify the blood. It made its way to European medicine and had it registered as a herb in the United States to treat syphilis.
Nutritional Benefits
1 bottle of Sarapilla (335 ml) offers
| Sugar | 40 g |
| Saturated | 0g |
| Polyunsaturated | 0g |
| Monounsaturated | 0g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Sarsaparilla Benefits and Uses for the Body
1. Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic disease that has affected millions around the world. Sarsaparilla root benefits people who are suffering from arthritis(1). It has anti-inflammatory properties that make it very useful to treat joint pain, swelling caused by gout, and other factors.
2. Psoriasis
It could be a painful condition where the life cycle of skin cells speeds up. The red patches can be very painful but the sarsaparilla benefits of using this herb for psoriasis have been talked about for many centuries.
A study conducted in 2016 showed that sarsaparilla had magically improved the lesions on the skin for people suffering from psoriasis. It stated that sarsaponin, one of the significant steroids found in Sarsaparilla, helps to bind toxins that are responsible for forming lesions in patients who have psoriasis.
[Also Read: Natural Tips For Psoriasis]
3. Syphilis
Syphilis is a Sexually Transmitted Disease caused by bacteria. Sarsaparilla benefits show its effectiveness in working against harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that have grown in the body.
A study observed over 60 phenolic compounds that are isolated from sarsaparilla. The study tested them against 6 types of bacteria and fungi and found that 18 compounds showed antimicrobial effects against the bacteria as well as the fungus.
4. Improves Liver Health
The liver is one of the most vital organs in our body, and Sarsaparilla herb has shown to have some protective effects on the liver. The herb has compounds that are rich in flavonoids that help to reverse the damage caused to the liver.
[Read: Best Herbs to Cure Fatty Liver Naturally]
5. Increases urination
Sarsaparilla also acts as a diuretic(2). It increases the urine output and reduces fluid retention in the body. This reduces inflammation in the body and also keeps the blood pressure levels in check.
6. Digestive problems
It has anti-inflammatory benefits and other properties that aid digestion. It maintains good gut health and solves all digestive problems.
Method to Use Sarsaparilla
1. Sarsaparilla Tea Benefits to Detox your Body
Things you will need
- Chopped root or powdered sarsaparilla
- Water
Method
- Take one cup of boiling water and add 1 tsp of powdered sarsaparilla to it.
- Simmer for ten minutes. Cover and let it steep for 15 minutes.
- Strain this tea and serve.
Precautions
Although the sarsaparilla benefits are plenty, some precautions need to be taken.
- It is best avoided when pregnant or breastfeeding.
- It can contradict with kidney medications as it has hepatoprotective properties.
It is otherwise very safe but the problem arises when it is confused with ‘Hemidesmus indicus’. Although this is seldom used for sarsaparilla preparations it doesn’t have active chemicals of the Smilax genus.
[Read: Flush out the Toxins and Detox Your Body]
The Bottom Line
Sarsaparilla is often confused with Indian sarsaparilla, which does not have any benefits. Be careful when you buy from local stores as they have a lot of additives present in it that make it lose its nutrition. Always buy the herb from a reliable store. It is commonly available in the form of medicines, teas, capsules, powder, and tinctures.
FAQs
1. Are Sarsaparilla and Root Beer the Same?
No, they aren’t the same thing. Sarsaparilla is made from a vine, whereas root beer is made from roots of sassafras tea.
2. Is Sarsaparilla Carcinogenic?
It consists of safrole, a compound that is banned by the FDA as it is known to have carcinogenic effects. Research shows that it has caused liver cancer in rats when given in a high dose and thus products containing sarsaparilla were banned.
