Botanical Index No. 903

Sarsaparilla

smilax aristolochiifolia

Medicinal Actions

Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Anorexia Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Cancer Caked Breast Cardiopathy Coma Constipation Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Dyscrasia Dysentery Dyspepsia Eczema Enterosis Exanthema Fever Fungus Furuncle Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Headache Hematuria Hepatosis Herpes IBS Impotence Infection Inflammation Itch Leprosy Leukorrhea Lupus Mycosis Nephrosis Psoriasis Pyelosis Rheumatism Roseola Scabies Scrofula Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Syphilis Tuberculosis Ulcer Urethrosis UTI VD Water Retention Wound

General Dosage

1–4 g dry rhizome, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–4 g powdered root; 1–2 tsp powdered root/cup water up to 3 ×/day; 0.3–1.5 g root; 3 ml root 3 ×/day; 6 tsp root in cold tea; 3 cups root tea/day; 2–4 tbsp fresh root; 3–6 g dry root; 4.5 g dry root:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 0.25–0.5 tsp root tincture up to 3 ×/day; 8–30 ml concentrated root decoction; 8–15 ml liquid root extract; 8–15 ml liquid rhizome extract; 2 capsules 2–3 ×/day. I’d feel safe with 10–30 g dry root in 3 cups tea or sarsaparilla/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Can cause nausea and kidney damage. Avoid large doses for long periods. Unapproved by Commission E. Steroids used for arthrosis, dysmenorrhea, menopause, and PMS. Commission E reports for the root that gastric and renal toxicity, as well as drug interactions, are possible. Overdosage could lead to European cholera, shock, and worsened diuresis, among other things. Blumenthal editorially questions the Commission E claim for gastric irritation due to saponin content. Commission E reminds us of another problem, saponins can increase the availability of simultaneously administered drugs, while hastening the elimination of other drugs. In view of the lack of toxicological data, excessive use should be avoided. There are no known problems with the use of sarsaparilla during pregnancy and lactation. Sarsaparilla saponins have been used in the partial synthesis of cortisone and other steroids.

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