Sassafras

Sassafras is a plant. The root bark is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, sassafras is used for urinary tract disorders, swelling in the nose and throat, syphilis, bronchitis, high blood pressure in older people, gout, arthritis, skin problems, and cancer. It is also used as a tonic and blood purifier. Sassafras was known primarily as a medicinal herb to the american indians and, later, to the europeans, who shipped great quantities to shops in england and on the continent.

The leaves could be made into teas and poultices, while the root bark was either chipped or crushed and then steeped in boiling wateraone ounce of bark to one pint of wateraand taken in doses of a wineglassful as often as needed to reduce fevers; soothe chronic rheumatism, gout, and dropsy; relieve eye inflammation; ease menstrual and parturition pain; help cure scurvy and various skin conditions; and act as a disinfectant in oral surgery.

Sassafras is used for the treatment of dropsy, syphilis, typhus and as a stimulant. The herb treats internally caused skin diseases, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. The root bark is used in preparing a tea that is known as a spring tonic, blood purifier and blood thinner. The boiled roots of the sassafras tree are believed to alleviate bronchitis, a problem affecting the lungs.

The tea contains diuretic properties and hence, is used for treating high blood pressure and eliminating toxins from the body. The tea is also used as a household cure for a number of ailments, such as gastrointestinal complaints, colds, flu, kidney ailments, arthritis, gout, menstrual obstructions, rheumatism and skin eruptions. The oil, when applied externally, controls lice and treats insect bites. The essential oil extracted from the root bark is used as a pain killer and an antiseptic in dentistry.

To make the tea, roots or leaves of sassafras tree are brewed in water for about 20 minutes. Lemon and sugar are also added by some, however, this is optional. Some even brew the root in maple syrup to make the tea. This can also be concentrated into a jelly instead of being consumed as a beverage.

The tea is believed to purify blood. It is also claimed to be a blood thinner. Hence, it finds use in treating high blood pressure.

One of the benefits is that it helps in eliminating toxins from the body. It may also be useful as a diuretic. It is claimed that the leaves have active ingredients that help people who are affected by arthritis and rheumatic conditions. The tea is also known to provide relief during cold and flu.

It is believed to be effective in providing relief to those affected by bronchitis. The tea has shown good result in working against gastrointestinal problems, kidney ailments, and skin eruptions.

*sassafras tea may cause side effects like itchiness, inability to walk properly, lethargy, confusion, skin inflammation, reduced body temperature, chest pain, hallucinations, paralysis, muscle spasms, loss of mental balance, swelling in the throat, vomiting, decrease in mental acuity and difficulty in breathing.

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