What Is Sarsaparilla and What Are Its Health Benefits?

There is a vine Dr. Sebi cherished for its astonishing ability to calm the central nervous system, provide abundant energy, cleanse the body and act as a potent aphrodisiac.

That vine is sarsaparilla and it has been revered by herbalists for hundreds of years to resolve dozens of health problems. Learn the powerful properties of this vitalizing vine, and why Dr. Sebi called it “the spark plug of the body.”

Sarsparilla is a key ingredient of our favorite compounds for sexual health, Testo for men, which boosts testosterone and enhances male virility, and Estro for women, which supports female reproductive health, libido and hormonal balance.

“It’s the greatest cleanser you ever had in your life, the Sarsaparilla.” - Dr. Sebi.

One Big Family

The name ‘sarsaparilla’ comes from the Spanish words ‘sarza,’ meaning bramble, and ‘parilla,’ meaning little grape vine. The Spanish were introduced to sarsaparilla by Native Americans, and since then it’s become popular around the world.

Sarsaparilla is a family of vines with the botanical name Smilax. It’s also called:

• Aritjol (its Catalan name)
• Ba Quia
• Dwarf Greenbriar
• Dwarf Smilax
• Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla
• Honduras Sarsaparilla
• Jupicanga
• Khao yen
• Latx (its Basque name)
• Liseron Epineux
• Mexican Sarsaparilla
• Salsapariglia nostrana (its Italian name)
• Salsaparilla (its Galician name)
• Salsaparrilha
• Salsepareille (its French name)
• Saparna
• Sarsa (its German name)
• Sarsaparilla Vine
• Smilace
• Wild Sarsaparilla
• Zarzaparilla

Sarsaparilla has been used for thousands of years in South American folk medicine to treat inflammation and boost the immune system, and is most commonly consumed as a tea. Sarsaparilla is also the name of a popular tonic made from different members of the Smilax family, the most common one being Smilax regelii.

Searching for Sarsaparilla

There are different varieties of sarsaparilla that like to grow throughout tropical parts of the globe.

Sarsaparilla doesn’t need much water to grow, but it does prefer shade. It has a high tolerance to drought and heat, and prefers to grow in dry, sandy, well-drained soil. In the US, you’ll find sarsaparilla vine in the sandy woodlands of East Texas, Florida and South Carolina.

Sarsaparilla is a trailing vine with short thick stems that grow underground and leaves alternating on each side, making its aboveground leaves look like individual plants. Thanks to its small tendrils, sarsaparilla can grow over rocks or crawl up tree trunks. In spring it produces shiny orange or red berries, but they are toxic to humans, causing diarrhea or vomiting if eaten, and reducing the body’s red blood cell count!

The main sarsaparilla species used commercially are Smilax aristolochiaefolia (Mexican Sarsaparilla), Smilax regelii (Honduran Sarsaparilla) and Smilax febrifuga (Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla). The roots are sticky and bitter when first gathered, their goodness is then extracted through drying in the sun and boiling.

What’s in Sarsaparilla?

Sarsaparilla has it all!

• Antioxidants – Anti-inflammatory neutralizers of free radicals.
• Caffeine - Sarsaparilla contains a small amount of caffeine.
• Choline – Essential nutrient crucial for cell membranes and energy.
• Fats - Soothing spectrum (behenic, linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic).
• Flavonoids – Protective and flavorsome plant-pigments and phytonutrients.
• Iron – One of the most concentrated plant-sources of this critical mineral.
• Glycocides – Support heart and blood pressure regulation and adaptability.
• Phytosterols – Unique sterol called ‘sarsapogenin’ lowers blood sugar.
• Saponins – bitter compounds that bind and cleanse bacteria and fungus.
• Trace Minerals - Calcium, chromium, magnesium, selenium and zinc.

“The Sas is the highest concentrated plant for iron; the most powerful agent in reference to iron of any plant.” - Dr. Sebi.

Sarsaparilla’s Special Effects

Sarsaparilla has been used throughout history for its wide range of health-bestowing properties:

• Aphrodisiac - Sarsaparilla boosts sperm mobility, heightens libido in men by increasing blood flow to the penis, and increases fertility in women, and improves overall sex drive in both men and women.
• Blood Cleanser - historically one of Sarsaparilla’s main uses was to aid purification of the blood and support the liver and kidneys to “mop-up” and clear-out toxins.
• Cancer Prevention - the antioxidants in Sarsaparilla help to neutralize cancer-causing free radicals and can slow down the development of cancerous cells.
• Detoxification - Sarsaparilla is a diuretic (makes you pee), promotes perspiration and also binds to toxins in the gut – all of which help your body keep clean on the inside.
• Hormonal Balance -Sarsaparilla’s saponins and plant sterols mimic the effects of our own natural sex hormones, elevating healthy sexual functions and desires. Be careful with sellers that promote Sarsaparilla as a hormone substitute.
• Immune Booster - Sarsaparilla boosts immune system function, which is why it's commonly used to treat coughs, colds and seasonal flu.
• Inflammation - Sarsaparilla reduces swelling in the joints caused by arthritis, soothes joint pain and calms the painful swelling caused by gout.
• Mucus Buster - Sarsaparilla eliminates mucus build up in the respiratory system and sinuses and helps to expel it from the body.
• Native American Medicine - Native Americans made a tea from Sarsaparilla root for coughs and colds, ringworm and skin conditions.
• Syphilis - Popular treatment for syphilis and venereal diseases between the 15th and 19th centuries which gave it a worldwide reputation, although this treatment was apparently ‘debunked’ in the 18th century.
• Weight Loss - Sarsaparilla is known to suppress appetite and improve digestion both of which can help with losing weight and improving nutrient assimilation.

Sarsaparilla has also been used to improve a wide range of conditions:

• Anemia
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Digestion
• Eczema
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Gonorrhea
• Gout
• Headaches
• Impotence
• Indigestion
• Inflammation
• Kidney disease
• Leprosy
• Liver damage
• Muscle pain
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sexual health
• Skin conditions

“In fact, in minutes of taking the organic herb of the Sarsaparilla, you will see the benefits immediately.” - Dr. Sebi.

Sarsaparilla Trivia

Did you know…?

• The taste has been described as a mix between caramel, licorice, and vanilla.
• Sarsaparilla was one of the most popular drinks among cowboys in the “Old West” (especially after they’d spent a night in a brothel or were intending to visit one.)
• Sarsaparilla was used to flavor (and as a foaming agent in) root beer.
• It’s a member of the Liliaceae plant family, which includes lilies.
• It contains at least 24 different plant extracts with anti-cancer properties.
• It’s used as a natural steroid, to enhance muscle growth, by bodybuilders.
• Sarsaparilla Vine can grow up to 8 feet long and the leaves can also be consumed.
• In Europe it was a popular remedy for purification during the Dark Ages.
• For the Tudors of 15th and 16th Century England, Sarsaparilla was a treatment for baldness.

Sarsaparilla Preparations

Sarsaparilla Leaf Tea

• Take 10 sarsaparilla leaves and put them into a saucepan.
• Cover the leaves with 2 cups of water.
• Boil for 3 minutes.
• Serve in tea cups.
• You can make several teas from the same batch of leaves.

Sarsaparilla Root Tea

• Place sarsaparilla roots into a saucepan.
• Cover with 2 cups of water.
• Steep for 30 minutes.
• Drain the liquid with a sieve and serve in tea cups.

Dr. Sebi’s Estro and Dr. Sebi’s Testo are two of our most popular products; producing profound improvements in sexual health, sexual desire and sexual performance. If you want to rekindle desire, and rebalance sexual hormones, Estro and Testo protect the sexual endocrine glands (ovaries, testes and prostate) from damaging and disrupting toxins while helping you get into the mood for love.

Herbal Helping Hands

Sarsaparilla is one of the many game-changing herbs that Dr. Sebi utilized in his life-enhancing herbal preparations. Dr. Sebi selected the best (and some of the most underrated) natural herbs on the planet to support your healthy bioelectric alkaline lifestyle.

This month we are proud to offer a special collection of powerful products in a new package. The empowering collection has been developed to pragmatically protect you from seasonal stress this holiday season. The Treat Yourself package combines massive doses of minerals with detoxifying herbs to cleanse and protect your body and mind.

It’s been a difficult year! Why not Treat Yourself to this special collection of health enhancing herbs uniquely available this December until supplies last. Let’s make life easier by gathering the support of our herbal helpers, Mother Nature knew we would need them and Dr. Sebi proved their potential and made them accessible for all.