Botanical Name: Smilax officinalis

Common Names and Synonyms: Mealy Sarsaparilla, Honduras Sarsaparilla, Guatemala Sarsaparilla

Background: Sarsaparilla is native to Central and South America.  It is a ground-trailing vine which climbs by means of tendrils.  The woody stems have sharp prickles and the leaves are arrow-shaped.  Small green-white flowers grow from the leaf axis.  The woody roots have a spicy-sweet taste.  The Indians boiled the roots to make a tea which was used as a blood purifier.  Some tribes used the beaten roots mixed with oil as a cough medicine.   In the mid 1800's many proprietary medicines contained sarsaparilla and it became a popular ingredient for tonics.  Sarsaparilla was widely used to treat syphilis until the beginning of the twentieth century.  Today, herbalists use sarsaparilla as a blood purifying herb for the treatment of liver problems, rheumatism, and skin diseases such as psoriasis.  It also finds use in balancing the glandular system and improving digestion.
 

Graphics:

• Edgar Cayce regarded sarsaparilla as a blood purifier and digestive aid.

• Sarsaparilla was recommended in 356 readings between 1911 and 1944.  Peak utilization was evident in 1924 with a steep decline in usage thereafter.

• Various amounts of sarsaparilla root were recommended with the following frequency:
 

2 ounces	67 readings
4 ounces	45 readings
1 ounce	33 readings
6 ounces	17 readings
1/2 ounce	3 readings
1 1/2 ounce	2 readings
3 ounces	2 readings

 
• In many readings sarsaparilla was recommended as a syrup as follows:
 

1/2 ounce	44 readings
1 ounce	43 readings
2 ounces	18 readings
1/4 ounce	8 readings
4 ounces	3 readings
1 1/2 ounces	2 readings
5 drops	22 readings
3 drops	8 readings
6 drops	8 readings
2 drops	5 readings
9 drops	4 readings
10 drops	3 readings
4 drops	1 reading
7 drops	1 reading
15 drops	1 reading
30 drops	1 reading
1/2 teaspoon	1 reading

 
• Sarsaparilla was typically recommended with other substances in a compound.  Although a wide diversity of  formulas were given, the most common substances in mentioned in the same readings as sarsaparilla are as follows:
 

Wild Cherry	211 readings
Tolu	203 readings
Yellow Dock	174 readings
Calisaya	134 readings
Burdock Root	97 readings
Stillingia	96 readings
Buchu	93 readings
Elder Flower	86 readings
Mandrake	83 readings
Sassafras	76 readings

 

5653-1
    Sarsaparilla Root (which is as a blood purifier in this particular condition and case).

5522-1
... sarsaparilla as a cleanser diathetic, and a purifier ...

5509-1
    The Syrup of Sarsaparilla forming - with the compounds - those of a CLEANSER, especially active in the glands that function through the straining or the assimilating of the first new blood.

1012-1
    The Sarsaparilla works with the gastric juices of the stomach, and the eliminations in the peristaltic movement through the intestinal tract.

643-1
    The Sarsaparilla Root is an emit, or a STRENGTHENER to the activities of the secretions in the stomach and INTESTINAL tract.

457-3
    The Sarsaparilla Root is an active force in the lactic fluids of activity in the digestive area.

404-4
    The compound Syrup of Sarsaparilla makes for an emit that carries to the gastric flow of the stomach and to the intestinal digestive force an equalizing in the body, or in the flow of the lymph to these portions of the system.

4815-1
    That of the forces or vibration created by the Sarsaparilla will be the cleansing in the blood forces.

4622-1
    Of that of the Sarsaparilla as a restrainer and strainer for the blood itself.

4477-1
    The Sarsaparilla is as the purifier in the blood stream

3724-1
    The action of certain properties is to rebuild the Hemoglobin within the blood to give more Leukocytes to the blood, as we find in the bark of Wild Cherry and Sarsaparilla.

569-5
(Q) What salines would be best for the body to take?
(A) Those as found in BiSodol, as given, and those as would be found in taking (or these may be changed from time to time), take for one to two days those properties of plain Phosphate of Soda, half a teaspoonful in half a glass of water, with two to five drops Syrup Sarsaparilla.  This would be good for the system also, sweetening the stomach, giving the intestines the proper eliminations and assisting the organs in functioning properly, see?

340-4
    We would take those salines that will keep the perfect eliminations in the intestinal tract.  We will find these would be well: Half a teaspoonful to three-fourths teaspoonful plain Phosphate of Soda taken before meal; that is before breakfast.  Added to this, we would give two drops of Syrup of Sarsaparilla and one drop, occasionally, not taken each time, of Oil of Turp.  This we find will also assist in eliminating the toxins and in eliminating the inflammations as produced by toxins in the mesenteric system.  This will also stimulate the secretions properly, giving the better action to all of the assimilating effects in digestive system, clarifying in the lacteal ducts, in the whole system, and assisting body to regain its equilibrium.

183-1
    First, we would take that in the system as would create the more lacteal fluids for the system and less of the acidity as seen in the functioning of the liver and of the pancreas, taking then, each morning, those small doses of the Bicarbonate of Soda, one-half teaspoonful in full glass of water, to which has already been added fifteen minums of Syrup of Sarsaparilla, see?

106-1
(Q) How often should the body take the sarsaparilla and soda?
(A) Only when eliminations are not proper.  See?  When the excretory system does not function normally, or when it feels dull or achey through overtaxation, or the dull headaches that may proceed from conditions of over-eating or over-stimulation.  See?

25-2
    Plain Phosphate of Soda, half a teaspoonful in a half glass of water, and add five to six drops of Oil, or Syrup, of Sarsaparilla.  This will be found will keep the system cleansed   ...