Botanical Index No. 904

Sassafras

sassafras albidum

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Analgesic, Antialcoholic, Antidermatitic, Antipyretic, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Ataxigenic, Carcinogenic, Carminative, CNS Depressant, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Hepatotoxic, Nephrotoxic, Pediculicide, Stimulant, Tonic, Tumorigenic, Vermicide

Primary Conditions Treated

Demulcent Acne Ague Alcoholism Anorexia Arthrosis Bronchosis Bruise Burn Cancer bone Cataract Catarrh Childbirth Cold Conjunctivosis Constipation Cough Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Enterosis Fever Flu Gallstone Gangrene Gas Gastrosis Gleet Gonorrhea Gout Gravel Heart Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Impotence Infertility Inflammation Mastosis Measles Mucososis Nausea Nephrosis Obesity Ophthalmia Osteosarcoma Pain Parotosis Pneumonia Poison Ivy Puerperium Pulmonosis Rash Respirosis Rheumatism Scarlet Fever Scrofula Sore Sore Throat Sprain Stomachache Stone Swelling Syphilis Tapeworm Typhus UTI VD Water Retention Worm Wound

General Dosage

Should not be used; 2–4 g root bark, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1 tsp root bark/cup water; 2–4 ml liquid root bark extract; 2–4 ml liquid root bark extract 3 ×/day; 5 g tincture.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Not for long-term use. Do not exceed recommended dose. Sassafras wood contains 1–2% EO, consisting of about 80% of the toxic and hepatocarcinogenic compound safrole; prolonged use is generally discouraged. CAN reports that safrole in the volatile oil is carcinogenic and genotoxic. Because of abortifacient activity of the oil and hepatotoxicity of safrole, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Even safrole-free extracts have reportedly caused tumors. Major symptoms of toxicity include ataxia, depression, and diarrhea, followed by death within 4 hours to 7 days. Rats with safrole in their diet at levels of 0.25% to 1% exhibit biliary proliferation, growth retardation, liver necrosis, primary hepatomas, stomach atrophy, and testicular atrophy. “Sassafras should not be used, internally or externally”. High doses may cause spasm followed by paralysis.

!