Sassafras
(Sassafras albidum; S. varifolium; S. officinale)
Family: LAURACEAE
Energetics: Warming.
Taste: Spicy. Sweet. Pungent.
Tissue States: Stagnation.
Systems Affected: Liver. Lungs. Kidneys.
Parts Used: Root. Root bark.
Key Components: Volatile oils. Safrole. Resins. Tannins. Alkaloids.
Preparations & dosage:
Actions:
Foundational: Astringent (root & root bark) Inner bark of the root is demulcent.
Primary: Alterative. Diaphoretic. Diuretic. Carminative. Anti-rheumatic.
Secondary:
Uses:
The use of sasaafras as an alterative that purifies the blood makes it a good choice for most skin ailments.
It's blood cleansing abilities also makes it helpful in formulas for osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.
As a preventative for stroke and heart attack caused by thick blood.
Promotes good circulation to the brain which can increase ones ability to think clearly.
As a carminative it can help to improve digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
Combines well with:
Identifying:
Growing:
Harvesting:
Contraindications: Ok, so this is a perfect example as to why I honestly take scientific studies with a grain of salt. Sassafras contains a chemical component called safrole which, in laboratory rats, caused tumors. However, when they preformed this test, they extracted only the safrole and pumped the rats full of this. It did not take into full account the plant as a whole. Many plants rely on the synergistic effect of all of their constituents to work appropriately and safely. However the government used this study to force food manufacturers to stop using natural sassafras in their products and replace it with a synthetic "sassafras". Places in the US where sassafras is consumed regularly actually have a surprisingly LOWER rate of cancer than in places that don't.
Do not use when taking blood thinners as it is, itself a blood thinner.
Sources:
The Way of Herbs: Michael Tierra. Pg 189-191
The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 2: Matthew Wood. Pg 315-318
Studies:
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