What are the Health Benefits of Sassafras?

Root Beer tea seems to be a very popular brew this time of year. Shaken and poured over ice, this tea creates the perfect root beer head, due to all of the volatile oils that are found within the roots that make up the tea. What makes Root Beer, well root beer? Sassafras. It’s the signature aroma and flavor that we have come to know when enjoying it.

So, what is sassafras? Sassafras is a deciduous tree that grows within the Eastern portion of North American and parts of East Asia. Aside from Root Beer, it is also used for culinary purposes. You can find it seasoning various dishes, to thickening soups. It can also be found as a condiment through the addition of boiling water and sugar to create a paste.

The medicinal uses and health benefits of the tree have been noted to aid in strengthening immunity, preventing cancer, soothing menstrual pain, to relieving adrenal stress.

Other known benefits:

• The leaves have been found to detoxify the body as a diuretic by flushing the system.
• The bark of the tree has also been known to aid inflammation within the body, as well as being an excellent fever reducer.
• Since sassafras contains analgesic properties it is known to work well in the areas of tooth inflammation or injury. That is why you can usually find sassafras as a main ingredient for a lot of natural toothpaste options.
• Through the cleansing of blood, sassafras has also been known as a great blood purifier, whenever wanting a natural remedy for body detoxification.
• Last but not least, sexually transmitted diseases. Sassafras aids in the fight against pathogenic bacteria when dealing with Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Herpes.

The last one might have been a little too much, but I wanted to cover a brief scope of all the benefits you will find with consuming small quantities of sassafras bark. The leaves and bark are hepatotoxic and can cause cancer within the liver and kidneys. This is after vast use and abuse of the plant. Just remember Yin and Yang whenever consuming some herbs. There are a few of these herbs out there and they are fine for consumption on a limited basis.

Always do your own due diligence, and I’ll see you at the shop.

Source: https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/sassafras/
Source: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/sassafras.html