|
|
 | Sarsaparilla Other Names: Bamboo Brier. Smilax Sarsaparilla
Botanical Name: Aralia nudicaulis
Family: N.O. Araliaceae |
Description: |
It has a stout, flexuous and square stem, with a few hooked prickles above. Leaves unarmed, elliptical-ovate, cuspidate, abruptly contracted at each end; three strong veins, two lateral smaller secondary ones; underside glaucous, 3 inches diameter, on short margined petioles, with two long tendrils at their bases. Flowers yellowish-white, appearing May to August, in small thin umbels of three or four red or black berries, three-seeded.
Smilax Medica has an angular stem armedwith straight prickles at joints, and a few hooked ones at intervals; paper-like leaves, bright green both sides, smooth, cordate, auriculate, shortly acuminate, five-nerved prominent veins underneath and otherwise variable in form. Mid-rib and petioles, when old, have straight, subulate prickles, peduncles three lines to 1 inch; umbels twelve flowers; pedicle three lines long. Found growing in Papantla, Inspan, etc. Said to be similar to the Mexican or Vera Cruz Sarsapa of commerce, which may be derived from this species.
SARSAPARILLA MEXICAN (Synonym. Vera Cruz Sarsaparilla), as found in commerce, has a caudex with a number of long radicles which are smaller and have a thinner bark than the Honduras variety, contain little starch and have square endodermal cells with thickened walls, and more or less oval lumen. The taste is acrid and the plant contains the medical properties of other Sarsaparillas. |
Habitat: |
| A native of the southern United States and grows in swampy woods and thickets. |
Medicinal Usage: |
Alterative, tonic, antisyphilitic. Said to be inferior to all other Sarsaparillas. Much used by the American Indians. Used freely in decoction.
|
Ancient Lore: |
SARSAPARILLA SMILAX
Both leaves and berries, being drunk before or after taking any deadly poison, are an excellent antidote.
A perennial clirnber with prickly stems, large leaves, yellowish flowers and red or black berries.
Where to find it: There are several varieties, but the ones most used grow in the West Indies, America and India.
Flowering time: Late spring to late summer.
Astrology: Plant of Mars.
Medicinal virtues: If the juice of the berries be given to a new-born child, it shall never be hurt by poison. It is good against all venomous things. Twelve or sixteen berries, beaten to a powder, and given in wine, procure urine when it is stopped. The distilled water when drank has the same effect; and if the eyes be washed with it, they are thoroughly healed.
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 by their nurses may he cured, even though they are covered with pustules and ulcers, by administering the powdered root with their food.
Modern uses: Sarsaparilla is used as a blood purifier and tonic, particularly in cases of rheumatism, gout and chronic skin disease. The variety from India has been used successfully against syphilis. The powdered root is taken in doses of 20 grains (1.3 g) or by infusion - 2 OZ (56 g) to 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water - the whole amount being taken in one day. The root of Smilax officinalis from tropical America contains the hormones testosterone, progesterone and cortin. |
|
|