Sassafras Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Sassafras

Sassafras: From 5 Different Sources

Health, Money
Health Source:
Author: Health Dictionary
Sassafras officinale. N.O. Lauraceae.

Synonym: Kuntze.

Habitat: West Indies—imported from U.S.A

Features ? Rootbark is a bright, rusty brown, soft and brittle. Short, corky, layered fracture, with many oil cells. Chips of the woody root are commonly used—they are brownish-white in colour, showing concentric rings and slender medullary rays.

Part used ? Root, bark of root.

Action: Stimulant, diaphoretic (according to Coffin mildly antiseptic and detergent also).

Combined with alteratives for the treatment of skin eruptions and uric and other acid complaints. A decoction of 1 ounce to 1 pint (reduced) is taken in frequent wineglass doses. The decoction is sometimes used externally for ophthalmia.

Powdered Sassafras root was formerly (and in some places still is) sold as a substitute for tea or coffee, under the name of salap or saloop.
Health Source: Herbal Manual
Author: Health Dictionary
Sassafras officinale. N.O. Lauraceae.

Synonym: Kuntze.

Habitat: West Indies—imported from U.S.A

Features ? Rootbark is a bright, rusty brown, soft and brittle. Short, corky, layered fracture, with many oil cells. Chips of the woody root are commonly used—they are brownish-white in colour, showing concentric rings and slender medullary rays.

Part used ? Root, bark of root.

Action: Stimulant, diaphoretic (according to Coffin mildly antiseptic and detergent also).

Combined with alteratives for the treatment of skin eruptions and uric and other acid complaints. A decoction of 1 ounce to 1 pint (reduced) is taken in frequent wineglass doses. The decoction is sometimes used externally for ophthalmia.

Powdered Sassafras root was formerly (and in some places still is) sold as a substitute for tea or coffee, under the name of salap or saloop.
Health Source: Herbal Manual
Author: Health Dictionary
Sassafras albidum

Description: This shrub or small tree bears different leaves on the same plant. Some leaves will have one lobe, some two lobes, and some no lobes. The flowers, which appear in early spring, are small and yellow. The fruits are dark blue. The plant parts have a characteristics root beer smell.

Habitat and Distribution: Sassafras grows at the margins of roads and forests, usually in open, sunny areas. It is a common tree throughout eastern North America.

Edible Parts: The young twigs and leaves are edible fresh or dried. You can add dried young twigs and leaves to soups. Dig the underground portion, peel off the bark, and let it dry. Then boil it in water to prepare sassafras tea.

Other Uses: Shred the tender twigs for use as a toothbrush.
Health Source: Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary
Sassafras albidum

FAMILY: Lauraceae

SYNONYMS: S. officinale, Laurus sassafras, S. variifolium, common sassafras, North American sassafras, sassafrax.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A deciduous tree up to 40 metres high with many slender branches, a soft and spongy orange-brown bark and small yellowy-green flowers. The bark and wood are aromatic.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to eastern parts of the USA; the oil is mainly produced from Florida to Canada and in Mexico.

OTHER SPECIES: There are several other species, notably the Brazilian sassafras (Ocotea pretiosa) which is also used to produce an essential oil (also highly toxic). See also Botanical Classification section.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: It has been used for treating high blood pressure, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, menstrual and kidney problems, and for skin complaints. ‘Sassafras pith – used as a demulcent, especially for inflammation of the eyes, and as a soothing drink in catarrhal affection.’. The wood and bark yield a bright yellow dye.

ACTIONS: Antiviral, diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative, pediculicide (destroys lice), stimulant.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the dried root bark chips.

CHARACTERISTICS: A yellowy-brown, oily liquid with a fresh, sweet-spicy, woody camphoraceous odour. (A safrol-free sassafras oil is produced by alcohol extraction.)

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Safrole (80–90 per cent), pinenes, phellandrenes, asarone, camphor, thujone, myristicin and menthane, among others.

SAFETY DATA: Highly toxic – ingestion of even small amounts has been known to cause death. Carcinogen. Irritant. Abortifacient.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should not be used in therapy, whether internally or externally.’.

OTHER USES: Sassafras oil and crude are banned from food use; safrol-free extract is used to a limited extent in flavouring work. Safrol is used as a starting material for the fragrance item ‘heliotropin’.

Health Source: The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils
Author: Julia Lawless

Drink Sassafras Tea!

Drinking sassafras tea has both its pros and cons. The health benefits tempt you to give it a try. However, you should be aware of its side effects, as well. Find out more about both the health benefits and the side effects of sassafras tea. About Sassafras Tea Sassafras tea is made from the roots or leaves of the sassafras tree. This tree can be found in eastern North America and eastern Asia. The tree’s height varies between 9m and 18m. It has a thick trunk, with many thin branches and a smooth, orange-brown bark. The leaves have three distinct patterns (unlobed, bilobed, trilobed); they have smooth margins and can be 7-20cm long. The trees have small, yellow flowers with five petals, and a blue-black, egg-shaped fruit. The leaves are often used to season dishes. Also, rootbeer got its name from the oil extracted from sassafras tree root. How to make Sassafras Tea Both sassafras tree root and leaves can be used to make a cup of sassafras tea. Add a handful of either root or leaves to a pot of boiling water. Cover and let it steep for about 20 minutes. Once the steeping time is done, strain to clear the liquid. Sassafras Tea Benefits Sassafras tea gets many active constituents from either the root or the leaves of the sassafras tree. Some of them include safrole, tannins, mucilage, asarone, and alpha-pinene. This leads to the tea having many health benefits. Sassafras tea works both as a blood thinner and as a blood purifier. Drinking it also promotes the process of extracting toxins from your body. Drinking sassafras tea can help if you’ve got a cold or the flu. Also, it can be used in the treatment for bronchitis and gonorrhea. With sassafras tea, you can also treat liver and kidney problems, urinary tract problems, arthritis and rheumatism. Drinking it will also help reduce menstrual cramps. Sassafras Tea Side Effects Among its active constituents, sassafras tea contains saffron, which is considered to trigger liver cancer. More researches are being done, though until it is known for sure, its trade has been restricted. This is why it is recommended that you not drink sassafras tea for a long period of time. The amount of tea you drink matters, as well. Don’t drink more than 3-4 cups of sassafras tea a day. If you drink too much, you might get hallucinations, heart palpitations, headaches, or you might feel nauseous. Pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn’t drink sassafras tea, either. It can affect the baby, and even lead to miscarriages during pregnancy. Sassafras tea has both health benefits and side effects. Before you start consuming it, it’s considered best to talk to your doctor and balance the pros and cons, based on your health. If you’re safe to drink it, then enjoy your cup of sassafras tea!... drink sassafras tea!

Sassafras Albidum

(Nutt.) Nees.

Synonym: S. officinale Nees and Eberm.

S. variifolium Kuntze.

Family: Lauraceae.

Habitat: Canada to Florida. Dried roots of S. albidum are imported into India.

English: Ague tree.

Unani: Sassafras.

Action: Root—used earlier for rheumatism, gout, kidney complaints and skin diseases.

Safrole is the main constituent of the volatile oil (80-90%), in addition to condensed tannins, resin, cinnam- ic acid derivatives. Safrole and its metabolite, L-hydroxysafrole are both neuro- and hepatotoxic (carcinogenic in animals). Its internal use is no more advised. Safrole-free extracts are ineffective.... sassafras albidum

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches