Herb of the Month:
Sarsaparilla
Smilax spp.
warm, moist, tonifying
Taste:pungent, sweet, slightly salty
Family:LiliaceaeMedicinal parts:roots
Actions:hepatic, digestive, nutritive, alterative, adrenal tonic, immune modulator, diuretic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, emollient, anti-rheumatic
Affinities: liverNotable constituents:glycyphyllin, parillin, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, smilostanols, sarsaponin, smilasaponin, sarsaparilloside
Medicinal applications
A warming hepatic herb, sarsaparilla stimulates liver transformation, while moistening tissue and promoting the flow of heat, fluids, and vitality through one of the most important organs in the body.
The aromatic constituents of sarsaparilla also stimulate digestive function and aid in the assimilation of nutrition.
A plant that helps the body to get the most out of the foods we eat, Smilax also helps to lower blood sugar, giving this herb a hypoglycemic action.
A building and supportive herb for immunity, sarsaparilla aids the liver in its detoxification of endogenous wastes from the body, while improving the quality of the blood.
The hepatic, digestive, and immune supporting actions of sarsaparilla give this herb an alterative action. By improving the circulating fluids in the body and increasing moisture, Smilax has a specific anti-rheumatic action when taken internally due to itsalterative and energetic signature.
A diuretic and hypotensive herb, Smilax improves and circulates blood through the vasculature and liver, while lowering blood pressure.
Saponins in sarsaparilla have been found to aid in the binding and disposal of circulating endotoxins(e.g. lipopolysaccharide, LPS). Sarsaparilla may also enhance hormonal catabolism.
In practice:
A liver-supporting alterative, sarsaparilla is an herb with a long history of medicinal use in North and South America.
With a warming andmoistening energetic pattern, sarsaparilla is a plant appropriate for the type of liver stagnation that is so common due to contemporary lifestyle factors.
