In this article, I am going to talk about what sarsaparilla is and share the pros and cons about it.
You may have seen sarsaparilla in a side dish, a tea drink, and wondered what it does.
Sarsaparilla is a plant native to South America and the Caribbean. It really started to be known for the treatment of syphilis in the 16th century. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is commonly transmitted through sex. It was also used to treat leprosy, a nasty skin disease that caused a person to be genuinely shunned by others.
Let’s talk about the actual benefits where there is evidence that it works. When it comes to alternative medicine, sometimes there are theories, but we like to see evidence, right?
One truth about sarsaparilla is that it can treat skin conditions like psoriasis, a hardening of the skin. In a study in “Jamla Dermatology,” 27 people with this skin condition took pills of this herb for 1 to 9 months. The condition of 7 people improved greatly, 8 improved moderately, 2 improved slightly, 9 received no benefit and 1 person was irritated by the drug. 2 people also noticed slight nausea.
It works because it has blood-cleansing abilities, this plant can bind to something called endotoxins and remove them, which people with psoriasis have. Another benefit is that it can cleanse the liver and other organs as these endotoxins burden them.
This herb can also help with syphilis with its antibacterial abilities. Clinical trials in China show that it was effective (according to blood tests) in 90% of acute cases and 50% of chronic cases.
It can fight cancer. The United States Library of Medicine shows that it has anti-cancer effects.
It can also help with inflammation and it can help with arthritis. In laboratory rats, artificially induced arthritis was blocked in rats given this herb. The bad news is that no human studies have been done, but if it reduces inflammation, it may help, since the root cause of arthritis pain is inflammation.
In fact, chronic inflammation is the leading cause of age-related problems. Anything that reduces it is very good. When it comes to dangers, taking a high dose can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
The next time you see this ingredient, sarsaparilla, in a tea or supplement, you’ll know what it does.
Thanks to Kevin Whitsitt
