Smilax officinalis
Name: Sarsaparilla
Biological Name: Smilax officinalis
Other Names: Sarsaparilla, Jamaica sarsaparilla, guay-quill sarsaparilla, red sarsaparill
Active Compounds:
Saponins, based on the aglycones sarsapogenin and smilagenin; the major one being parillin (=sarsaponin), with smilasaponin (=smilacin) and sarsaparilloside
b-sitosterol, stigmasterol and their glucosides.
Remedies For:
Alterative, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, diaphoretic, demulcent, antisyphilitic, stimulant, antiscorbutic.
Sarsaparilla is a widely applicable alterative. It may be used to aid proper functioning of the body as a whole and in the correction of problems such as skin and rheumatic conditions. It is particularly useful in scaling skin conditions such as psoriasis, especially where there is much irritation. As part of a wider treatment for chronic rheumatism it is especially useful for rheumatoid arthritis.
Sarsaparilla contains constituents with properties that aid testosterone activity in the body. Traditional herbalists used this herb for syphilis, herpes, rheumatic affections, dropsy, gonorrheal rheumatism, syphilitic sore throats, and for chronic hepatic disorders.
Description:
The plants are climbing vines native to tropical America and the West Indies.
Not to be confused with Sassafrass (Sassafrass albidium) or the North American Sarsparilla (Aralia nudicalis), This vine in the same family as greenbriar is used as a blood purifier and general tonic, and has been used all over the world for the same conditions, namely gout, syphilis, gonorrhea, wounds, arthritis, fevers, coughs, scrofula, hypertension, digestive disorders, psoriasis, skin disease, cancer and as a tonic. It also works well with other herbs to aid absorption and facilitate their actions. Its blood- purifying actions have been clinically shown to attack and neutralize microbial substances in the blood stream. Claims that Sarsparilla contain testosterone and/or other anabolic steroids are a popular marketing ploy, but are however quite misleading. It does have high amounts of steroids and saponins, but it has never been proven to have any anabolic effects. It does not contain testosterone. It's properties include: Alterative, Aphrodisiac, Antibiotic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-rheumatic, Antiseptic, Antipruritic, Anti-syphilic, Carminative, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Hepatoprotective, Hormonal, Steroidal, Stimulant, Stomachic, and Tonic.
Smilax
(SARSAPARILLA)
Renal colic; marasmus and periosteal pains due to venereal disease. Eruptions following hot weather and vaccinations; boils, and eczema. Urinary symptoms well marked.
Mind.--Despondent, sensitive, easily offended, ill humored and taciturn.
Head.--Pains cause depression. Shooting pain from above right temporal region. Pains from occiput to eyes. Words reverberate in ear to the root of nose. Periosteal pains due to venereal disease. Influenza. Scalp sensitive. Eruptions on face and upper lip. Moist eruption on scalp. Crusta lactea beginning in face.
Mouth.--Tongue white; aphthæ; salivation; metallic taste; no thirst. Fetid breath. Abdomen.--Rumbling and fermentation. Colic and backache at same time. Much flatus; cholera
infantum.
Urinary.--Urine scanty, slimy, flaky, sandy, bloody. Gravel. Renal colic. Severe pain at conclusion of urination. Urine dribbles while sitting. Bladder distended and tender. Child screams before and while passing urine. Sand on diaper. Renal colic and dysuria in infants. Pain from right kidney downward. Tenesmus of bladder; urine passes in thin, feeble stream. Pain at meatus.
Male.--Bloody, seminal emissions. Intolerable stench on genitals. Herpetic eruption on genitals. Itching on scrotum and perineum. Syphilis; squamous eruption and bone pains.
Female.--Nipples small, withered, retracted. Before menstruation, itching and humid eruption of forehead. Menses late and scanty. Moist eruption in right groin before menses.
Skin.--Emaciated, shriveled, lies in folds (Abrot; Sanic), dry, flabby. Herpetic eruptions; ulcers. Rash from exposure to open air; dry, itching; comes on in spring; becomes crusty. Rhagades; skin cracked on hands and feet. Skin hard, indurated. Summer cutaneous affections.
Extremities.--Paralytic, tearing pains. Trembling of hands and feet. Burning on sides of fingers and toes. Onychia, ulceration around ends of fingers, cutting sensation under nails. Rheumatism, bone pains; worse at night. Deep rhagades on fingers and toes; burn under nails. Tetter on hands; ulceration around ends of fingers (Psorin). Cutting sensation under nails (Petrol). Rheumatic pains after gonorrhœa.
Modalities.--Worse, dampness at night, after urinating, when yawning, in spring, before menses. Relationship.--Complementary: Merc; Sep.
Compare: Berb; Lycop; Nat m; Petrol; Sassafras; Saururus-Lizard's tail--(Irritation of kidneys, bladder, prostate and urinary passages. Painful and difficult micturition; cystitis with strangury). Cucurbita citrellus-Water-melon. Infusion of the seed acts promptly in painful urination with constriction and backache, relieves pain and stimulates flow
Antidote: Bell.