*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