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Sarsaparilla Tea Benefits

May 13, 2011 | By Bonnie Vanaman
Sarsaparilla Tea Benefits
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Sarsaparilla tea is derived from the roots of a vine-like plant and has been used in folk medicine around the world for everything from an aphrodisiac to a blood purifier and a cure for a variety of diseases like syphilis and rheumatism. Modern research hasn't been able to verify many of these claims in clinical studies, but sarsaparilla does show promise in a few areas, and the tea may be beneficial as a digestive aid.

Identification

Sarsaparilla is from the Smilax genus and includes several different species used in medicine, including officinalis, aristolochiaefolia, glabra, febrifuga, ornata, regelii and japicanga. The root from these vines is powdered and made into a tea with a spicy sweet taste. Chemical components of the tea include a number of steroidal saponins, which are building blocks that form a blueprint for your body to create its own steroids and support testosterone levels. Sarsaparilla also contains quercetin, an antioxidant that protects against damaging free radicals. Minerals in sarsaparilla include aluminum, chromium, iron, magnesium, selenium, calcium and zinc.

Anti-inflammatory

Sarsaparilla has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties that make it potentially useful in treating arthritis and gout. One study from China, published in the journal "Ethnopharmacology" in February 2006, found that a tea made from the Smilax china L species had similar anti-inflammatory effects to acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin, in laboratory animals. Another Chinese study published in the same journal in March 2003 showed that a tea made from Smilax glabra was effective in treating symptoms of advanced cases of arthritis in animals.

Gastrointestinal

Sarsaparilla has been used in many cultures to improve appetite and digestion. Various species of the plant have also been investigated for their ability to act as an intestinal wormicide and for properties that can improve precancerous intestinal conditions. Sarsaponin, one of sarsaparilla's main steroids, binds to endotoxins -- cell wall fragments of normal gut bacteria -- and removes them from the body. This property of sarsaparilla root and tea may hold promise for treating liver diseases. French researchers published a study in the "Journal of Natural Products" in October 2005 that showed steroidal saponins from Smilax medica had some antifungal activity against human intestinal pathogenic yeasts like Candida albicans.

Hormone Regulation

Bodybuilders sometimes use sarsaparilla tea and other extracts believing it to be a rich source of testosterone due to its steroidal saponins. Although these claims are anecdotal and haven't been verified in studies, sarsaparilla saponins have been used in the synthesis of sex hormones in the pharmaceutical industry. In Mexico, the root is still used today for its alleged aphrodisiac properties.

Memory

Research into properties of sarsaparilla shows promise for its ability in improving mental concentration and memory. Scientists from Shanghai Second Medical University in China published a study in "Brain Research" in October 2005 showing that sarsasapogenin given orally to laboratory rats improve the learning ability and memory in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum areas of the brains of aged rats to a level approaching that of younger, healthy control rats. These test results have yet to be duplicated in human trials, but there may be no harm in trying sarsaparilla tea for that afternoon slump at the office.

Considerations

Sarsaparilla hasn't been studied well enough to know if there are many side effects, although high doses can cause digestive upset and one case of an allergy to sarsaparilla dust has been reported. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking prescription medications, check with your doctor before consuming sarsaparilla tea.

References

Article reviewed by RandyS Last updated on: May 13, 2011

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