Sarsaparilla.Smilax officinalis,Legend of Smilax China.

Current Practical Uses of Sarsaparilla,Smilax root.

Smilax sarsaparilla Extract INCI Name Smilax Aristolochiaefolia Extract Smilax Officinalis Root Extract CAS 97404-52-9 EINECS ELINCS No 306-819-2 Smilax officinalis Smilax China Wild Sarsaparilla Root extract photo picture image Sarsaparilla is becoming more widely available in health food stores, with a variety of tablets, capsules, and tincture products sold today. Most of the sarsaparilla root in herbal commerce today comes from cultivation projects in Mexico and Latin America as well as China. In naturopathic and herbal medicine, it is used mostly in combination with other herbs for its tonic, detoxifying, blood purifying, and lymph-cleansing properties. In retail stores and products, it can be found as an ingredient in various herbal remedies made for skin disorders, libido enhancement, hormone balancing, and sports nutrition formulas. It's also commonly used in herbal preparations as a synergist or bioavailability aid - as it is thought that the saponins in sarsaparilla root increase the absorption of other chemicals in the gut. No known toxicity or side-effects have been documented for sarsaparilla; however, ingestion of large dosages of saponins may cause gastrointestinal irritation.

Simply put, there is no credible recent research on the actions of sarsaparilla. A few studies in the 1930s and 1940s showed it to be diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and protective of the liver. Benefits were also claimed in cases of eczema and psoriasis. Sarsaparilla does contain plant steroids but nothing close to testosterone, as plant steroids cannot be converted in the body to anabolic steroids or human hormones. The collective scientific evidence, scarce as it is, shows that sarsaparilla is more likely to build profit margins than muscle tissue.

Sarsaparilla extract is approved as a food flavoring ingredient in the United States. In Germany, although it has been traditionally used to treat skin diseases including psoriasis, as well as rheumatism and kidney ailments, products may not carry therapeutic claims because their effectiveness has not been demonstrated. After 500 years of us( in the West, sarsaparilla still awaits carefully designed studies.

Main Actions (in order): blood cleanser, immunomodulator (selectively reduces overactive immune cells), antimutagenic (cellular protector), detoxifier, tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions)

Main Uses: for psoriasis, dermatitis, leprosy, and other skin disorders; Blood purifier and general detoxification aid; General tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), stimulant, and hormonal regulator; Arthritis, rheumatism and autoimmune disorders which cause inflammation;

Treatment of syphilis: For syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases; The word sarsaparilla is of Spanish origin from sarza, meaning "bramble," and parilla, meaning "vine," The plant is thought to have been brought as a medicine to Spain from South America around 1573. One of its earliest uses was in the treatment of syphilis.Sarsaparilla has long been used in the treatment of syphilis. Clinical observations in China demonstrated that sarsaparilla was effective (according to blood tests) in about 90% of acute and 50% of chronic cases. In the 1950s the antibiotic properties of sarsaparilla were documented; other studies documented its antifungal and antimycobacterial activities. Its anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in several in vitro and in vivo studies, using different laboratory-induced models of arthritis and inflammation. One of these studies attributes the beneficial effect for arthritis to sarsaparilla's immune modulatory action. Sarsaparilla also has demonstrated liver protective effects in rats, with researchers concluding that it is able to prevent immune-mediated liver injury. Improvement of appetite and digestion has been noted with sarsaparilla, as well as its diuretic actions in humans. The root has been reported to have stimulatory activity on the kidneys in humans and, in chronic nephritis, it was shown to increase the urinary excretion of uric acid.

Potential against leptospirosis: Chinese tests indicate that sarsaparilla holds potential against leptospirosis, a rare disease transmitted to humans by rats. The root, in combination with five other herbs, was also tested as a treatment for syphilis. Reportedly, 90,% of the acute cases subsequently cleared.

Oral remedy for skin conditions such as psoriasis: In the United States, sarsaparilla is sold primarily as an oral remedy for skin conditions such as psoriasis. It is believed that chemicals in sarsaparilla may attach to endotoxins (the remnants of bacterial cells) that are common in individuals with psoriasis and certain other conditions. By eliminating or reducing the amounts of endotoxins in the body, sarsaparilla may help to relieve the condition.

Weak diuretic and laxative effects: Orally, sarsaparilla also has weak diuretic and laxative effects, which may make it useful in promoting the loss of excess water from the body and also in treating mild constipation. It may promote sweating, which may help to reduce fever. Sarsaparilla may also contain chemicals that act as a mild expectorant -- a substance that may loosen bronchial mucus and promote coughing. However, none of these effects have been verified through clinical studies and they may vary greatly depending on the amounts and type of sarsaparilla that is used.

Anti-inflammatory effects: Some anti-inflammatory effects associated with sarsaparilla made it useful in early medicine for treating arthritis and related conditions. It was also used to treat chronic rheumatism and skin diseases. In recent studies, the inflammation of artificially-induced arthritis was blocked in a significant number of laboratory animals that were given oral sarsaparilla. It is believed that chemicals in the sarsaparilla affected components of the immune system that are involved in decreasing inflammation. No human studies have been conducted to test this possible use of sarsaparilla, however.

Sarsaparilla is anti-inflammatory and cleansing, and can bring relief to skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and itchiness, and help treat rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. It has a tonic and specifically testosterogenic action on the body, leading to increased muscle bulk, and it has a potential use for impotence. Sarsaparilla also has a progesterogenic action, making it beneficial in premenstrual problems, and debility and depression associated with menopause. In Mexico, the root is still frequently consumed for its reputed tonic and aphrodisiac properties. Native Amazonian peoples take sarsaparilla to improve virility and to treat menopausal problems.

Against a type of parasitic worm: Some additional laboratory research seems to show that oral sarsaparilla extract may be effective against a type of parasitic worm that is common in Asia. Human clinical studies are also needed to verify this use.

Urinary system and remedy for cystitis and renal colic from kidney stones: Sarsaparilla is mainly used for the urinary system and is an important remedy for cystitis and renal colic from kidney stones. Symptoms of cystitis include a constant urge to urinate and pain in the bladder as the last few drops of urine are passed. In addition, there may be dribbling and incontinence, especially when sitting. The urine is cloudy and may be bloody and contain gravel or small kidney stones.

Blood purifier and Good for eczema with deep, bloody cracks on the hands: This remedy is also good for eczema with deep, bloody cracks on the hands, especially on the sides of the fingers. Rheumatic pain that is worse in damp weather and at night is also treated with Sarsaparilla. People who need this remedy feel very chilly and tend to have itchy, scaly spots, which become crusty, especially in the spring.

Clinical research has validated the traditional use of sarsaparilla for skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and leprosy. In 1942, it was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine to improve the condition of psoriasis dramatically. There the results of a clinical study with 92 patients was detailed which reported that it improved psoriasis lesions in 62% of cases and completely cleared lesions in 18% of cases. One of the possible mechanisms of action in psoriasis is sarsaparilla's blood cleansing properties. Individuals with psoriasis have been found to have high levels of endotoxins circulating in the bloodstream (endotoxins are cell wall fragments of normal gut bacteria). Sarsaponin, one of sarsaparilla's main steriods, was found to bind to these endotoxins and remove them, thus improving psoriasis.

This endotoxin-binding action is probably why the root has been used for centuries as a "blood purifier." Other health conditions associated with high endotoxin levels include eczema, arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Sarsaparilla's effective use in the treatment of leprosy has been documented in a 1959 human trial. The effectiveness of sarsaparilla in the treatment of adolescent acne caused by excessive androgens has received some experimental support as well.
Smilax sarsaparilla Extract INCI Name Smilax Aristolochiaefolia Extract Smilax Officinalis Root Extract CAS 97404-52-9 EINECS ELINCS No 306-819-2 Smilax officinalis Smilax China Wild Sarsaparilla Root extract photo picture image

Psoriasis and respiratory diseases: A 2001 U.S. patent was filed on sarsaparilla (Smilax china) for psoriasis and respiratory diseases. This patent cited clinical observations and studies with children and human adults with Psoriasis vulgaris, pustular psoriasis, erythroderma psoriaticum lesions, and associated itching-reporting marked clinical improvements with dosages of 3-6 g daily. It also reported that, upon discontinuation of sarsaparilla after only two months of treatment, there was further gradual remission of lesions and no side effects. In addition, this patent indicated sarsaparilla was shown to be a preventative and therapeutic agent for respiratory and allergic diseases such as acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, and chronic bronchitis. Again, these studies and observations reported in the patent have yet to be published in any peer-reviewed journals.

Promotes sweating and is useful for catarrh: Sarsaparilla promotes sweating and is useful for catarrh. It expels wind from the stomach. It helps aches in the sinews or joints, running sores in the legs, phlegmatic swellings, tetters or ringworm, and spots on the skin. It has been found of service in venereal cases.

Infants infected: Infants infected by their nurses may he cured, even though they are covered with pustules and ulcers, by administering the powdered root with their food.

Preparations: The dried root, powdered root, capsules, tablets, tinctures, and combination products are widely sold in herb markets.

Properties/Actions Documented by Research: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimutagenic (cellular protector), blood cleanser, detoxifier, diuretic, hepatoprotective (liver protector), immunomodulator (selectively reduces overactive immune cells), neuroprotective (protects brain cells)

Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use: absorption aid, analgesic (pain-reliever), anticancerous, antioxidant, antirheumatic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), digestive stimulant, febrifuge (reduces fever), stimulant, tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), wound healer

Reference:

1.Sarsaparilla.Smilax officinalis,Legend of Smilax China.

last edit date:10th,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Smilax sarsaparilla Extract
Serie No:P088
Specifications:10:1.TLC.
INCI Name:Smilax Aristolochiaefolia Extract,Smilax Officinalis Root Extract.
EINECS/ELINCS No.:306-819-2
CAS:97404-52-9
Chem/IUPAC Name:Smilax Aristolochiaefolia Extract is an extract of the roots of the sarsaparilla,Smilax aristolochiaefolia,Liliaceae

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