Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla

Other Names: Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla, Honduras Sarsaparilla, Jamaican Sarsaparilla, Liseron Épineux, Liseron Piquant, Mexican Sarsaparilla, Salsaparilha, Salsepareille, Salsepareille d’Europe, Salsepareille du Honduras, Salsepareille du Mexique, Sarsa, Sarsaparillae Radix, Sarsaparillewurzel, Smilax, Smilax Aristolochaefolia, Smilax Aristolochiaefolii, Smilax aristolochiifolia, Smilax china, Smilax febrifuga, Smilax medica, Smilax officinalis, Smilax ornate, Smilax regelii, Zarzaparrilla
Sarsaparilla is a climbing, evergreen vine found in Australia, Southeast Asia, Jamaica and the rain forests of South and Central America. If you've ever sampled old-fashioned root beer, then you're familiar with the unique aroma and flavor of the plant's root.

Special Precautions of Sarsaparilla

• Do not confuse with Indian Sarsaparilla
• It might cause stomach irritation, especially when used in larger amounts.
• Allergic Reactions : Some people may have an allergic reaction to sarsaparilla root preparations, such as hives or skin rash. Inhalation of sarsaparilla root may trigger an asthma attack, according to a paper published in the June 1996 issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. If you experience chest pain, swelling of the tongue or shortness of breath, seek immediate medical attention.
• Asthma: Exposure to sarsaparilla root dust can cause runny nose and the symptoms of asthma.
• Kidney disease: Sarsaparilla might make kidney disease worse. Avoid sarsaparilla if you have kidney problems.
• Hormonal Effects : One of the steroid saponins found in sarsaparilla root is diosgenin, the same compound found in Mexican yam. Diosgenin is a building block essential for the production of steroid hormones, namely estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that this conversion doesn't take place in the body, though, and that the only way to get these hormones from diosgenin is by chemical synthesis in a lab. While many proponents of sarsaparilla root insist that the aphrodisiac properties of the herb are due to the presence of progesterone in the root itself, this isn't the case. Likewise, some body builders claim that sarsaparilla root increases muscle mass due to being a rich source of testosterone, while others contend that menopausal symptoms in women are reduced due to estrogenic activity. Michael T. Murray, N.D., author of "The Healing Power of Herbs," puts the argument to rest by clarifying that sarsaparilla root does not contain testosterone or estrogen. However, the medical center staff points out that since diosgenin is the same substance used to produce the first birth control pills of the1960s, it may produce estrogen-like effects in the body. This is because diosgenin interacts with estradiol, a natural hormone produced by the body that is also found in certain medications. Therefore, if you are taking oral birth control medications or undergoing hormone replacement therapy or treatment for a hormone-driven cancer, you should avoid sarsaparilla root.
• Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with SARSAPARILLA
• Lithium interacts with SARSAPARILLA

Benefits and uses of Sarsaparilla are

The root has also been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac and blood toner, and to treat skin disorders, inflammatory diseases, cancer, rheumatism and syphilis. Sarsaparilla has traditionally been used for women health concerns due to its progesterone-like effect. It is also used in diluted form as a homeopathic remedy.

• Antimicrobial : Sarsaparilla's medicinal history dates back to the 16th century. Both the Europeans and the Chinese employed it to treat syphilis, as an alternative remedy to the then-conventional use of mercury. Success rates for sarsaparilla were relatively high, and there were fewer side effects than with mercury. Historically, sarsaparilla was also a treatment for leprosy, gonorrhea and fever. This plant seems to have antimicrobial effects, meaning it counters infectious microbes, like bacteria and viruses. According to Drs. Joseph Pizzorno and Michael Murray, naturopathic physicians and authors of the "Textbook of Natural Medicine," sarsaparilla's antimicrobial effects may be attributed to its ability to bind endotoxins -- constituents in bacteria that can be absorbed into the body through the gastrointestinal tract, and can cause fever. Sarsaparilla seems to limit the amount of endotoxins that enter the body and thereby the harm they may cause.
• Anti-Inflammatory : Sarsaparilla's endotoxin-binding capabilities contribute to it anti-inflammatory effects. Pizzorno and Murray explain that it is normal for endotoxins to enter the body, and typically the liver filters them before they can reach general circulation and cause illness. However, if the amount of endotoxins absorbed through the gut is excessive, or if the liver is not functioning optimally, the detoxification process can become overwhelmed, and endotoxins enter the bloodstream. This activates the immune system to generate an inflammatory response, which itself can cause the cell damage that occurs in certain health conditions, including gout, arthritis and psoriasis. Also, according to Bastyr University Department of Botanical Medicine, sarsaparilla is an alterative -- a type of herb commonly used in naturopathic medicine to heal chronic scaling skin diseases, such as psoriasis.
• Wellness Enhancing : Pizzorno and Murray point out sarsaparilla's historic use as a tonic and a blood purifier. A tonic is thought to tone the whole system, and a blood purifier cleanses it. Pizzorno and Murray report that sarsaparilla is hepatoprotective, meaning it protects the liver cells. Optimal liver function is imperative for overall wellness because of that organ's essential roles of filtering toxins, storing nutrients and producing hormones and digestive substances. The main, active constituents of the sarsaparilla plant are its saponins, which help to decrease the body's toxic load. Sarsaparilla's ability to reduce toxins while increasing the liver's ability to process them can play a significant role in diminishing disease and enhancing overall wellness.
• Bladder Infections : Sarsaparilla homeopathic remedy is one of the top five remedies recommended by Asa Hershoff, N.D., D.C. and author of "Homeopathic Remedies, a Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Homeopathic Treatment." If you experience symptoms, such as burning sensation at the end of urination, pain that radiates in the abdomen, urination urgency and bed-wetting, blood in the urine, your symptoms gets worse at night and with movements, and you feel better when standing, homeopathic sarsaparilla may help you, says Hershoff.
• Skin Conditions : Although best known as a remedy specific for urinary tract, homeopathic sarsaparilla may help skin conditions such as eczema, notes Roger Morrison, M.D., author of "Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms," especially if you have dry, thick, itchy skin associated with cracks of the hands and soles of the feet.
• Painful Menstruation : If you suffer from dysmenorrhea, a gynecological condition characterized by painful menstruation, homeopathic sarsaparilla may help you. This remedy is indicated when pain during menses is felt in the abdomen and low back, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and frequent urge to urinate, according to Frans Vermeulen, homeopath and author of "Concordant Materia Medica."
• Headaches : Certain type of headaches may respond quickly to homeopathic sarsaparilla. When a headache is felt as a tight band around the forehead, has a shooting, throbbing quality, the scalp is dry, itchy and sensitive, and the head pain is associated with nausea, vomiting and depressed mood, a homeopath may recommend you try sarsaparilla, says Vermeulen.