Sarsaparilla – Health Benefits and Recipes

Sarsaparilla is a plant that has been used for centuries by many cultures as medicine. It is a trailing wine that can reach 50 meters in length. The root is the part usually used for medical ailments.  Diseases treated over the years with sarsaparilla include psoriasis, syphilis, leprosy, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other skin conditions. Originally from South America, when first brought to Europe in 1400, it was considered a remedy for purifying the blood and for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Nowadays it can be found in health food stores in the form of supplements, capsules, tinctures. It has a variety of positive effects on the human body especially on hormonal balance, sex drive and skin care.

Health Benefits of Sarsaparilla

Skin care

The topical application of creams and lotions that contain sarsaparilla are very popular because of the antioxidant properties of this plant that can offer a fresh and young look to the skin. Sarsaparilla has been shown to have a positive effect as an anti-aging remedy that protects the skin from the UVB reducing wrinkles and age spots. Also, sarsaparilla has been used for decades as an herbal medicine in the treatment of psoriasis as well as other skin conditions.

Sex Drive

Sarsaparilla can increase libido in both men and women, also having a positive effect on sperm mobility and blood flow. In ancient China, it was used as a potent sexual stimulant along being utilized in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The root is thought to possess aphrodisiacal properties, which stimulate the activity of testosterone in men and progesterone in women.

Hormonal balance

Sarsaparilla is known to help maintain hormonal balance. One of the most difficult time in a female’s life is menopause; everything feels different because of the natural changes that occur in the body. Symptoms can vary from physical symptoms like sweat and hot flashes to psychological symptoms like depression, anxiety, and irritability, and they are all connected to the hormonal imbalance.   Menopausal women can use sarsaparilla based products to help restore balance to hormone fluctuation

Weight Loss and Detox

Sarsaparilla can help with weight loss and detox due to its properties to reduce fluid retention and stimulate sweating. It has also been suggested that it can reduce appetite thus helping with diet control.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Sarsaparilla has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent and an antipruritic agent. It is thought to have an alleviating effect on muscle and joint pain and discomfort. Preparations out of this plant’s root have been typically used to treat rheumatic problems and inflammatory skin processes

Cancer

Natural and dietary supplements as well as a healthy diet, have been shown to have a positive effect on cancer prevention. Scientific studies have shown that sarsaparilla has a growth inhibition effect on cancer cells being a molecular based anticancer agent. Research on this subject has still a long way to go, but these herbal pharmaceutical solutions may be of great assistance in the treatment of cancer especially that it has little to none debilitating side effects and also a low affordable price.  

Precautions

Like everything else, it must be treated with caution. Excessive use of sarsaparilla can lead to diarrhea or indigestion, and it can also cause allergic reactions in some cases. In the event of any prolonged adverse side effects, always consult your physician.

Sarsaparilla Recipes

Sarsaparilla root is commonly used as a flavoring agent for beverages, food, and pharmaceutical and as a compound for root beer. It can also be used for home-made recipes.
Sarsaparilla Tea is thought to have many medicinal purposes as illustrated above. To make homemade tea, you need the following ingredients:

• Dried sarsaparilla root
• Water
• Cinnamon 
• Honey

Place the root on a cutting board, chop the root as small as you can with a sharp knife. Add water in a pot and simply add 1-2 teaspoons of sarsaparilla for each cup of water added. Boil it at a small flame and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes covered. For a more robust aroma let it steep for 30 minutes. Filter the liquid through a strainer and place it in cups. Add honey and cinnamon for a better taste and aroma.

Sarsaparilla Drink

This is a great refreshing beverage for hot summers. The ingredients needed for this quite simple recipe are:

• 3 - 4 liters of water
• dried sarsaparilla root
• dried sassafras root
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 Vanilla bean
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 Tsp. yeast 

Place the roots on a cutting board, chop the roots as small as you can with a sharp knife. Heat about 2 liters of water in a pot, and when warm, add about nine teaspoons of sarsaparilla root and about four teaspoons of sassafras root, add the raisins, vanilla bean, and the sugar and let it simmer for half an hour. You can add less or more sugar depending on your sweet tooth. Let it cool for another half an hour covered.

Pour the mixture into a jug, pour another liter water and mix it vigorously.  In another small bowl add the yeast with ¼ cup of lukewarm water, mix it and add it to the jug. Shake the jug vigorously again.
Filter the concoction, place in well washed, sterilized bottles, put caps on the bottles and let it sit for 2-3 days before putting them in a refrigerator. Consume in the following weeks.

Sarsaparilla Kombucha

This liquor has a great taste, and it is quite easy to make, the ingredients needed are:

• about 16 ounces of plain Kombucha
• a half cup of water 
• Two tablespoons sarsaparilla root 

To make this recipe start by heating the water and adding the sarsaparilla root. After letting it simmer for 30 minutes, use a strainer to separate the source from the water. Let the water cool and afterward, pour it into a fermenting vessel. Add the Kombucha to the container, place it in the refrigerator and let it ferment for one to three days.