Jamaican Sarsaparilla Root:
Also known as:
Smilax ornata
Sweet Sarsaparilla
Red Bearded Sarsaparilla
Coclmeca
Sarsaparilla
This particular species is a woody perennial climbing vine indigenous to South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. When the Spanish conquistadores arrived, they found the indigenous tribes using beverages made with sarsaparilla as a general health tonic.
The name itself is from the Spanish: sarza, meaning brambles, and parilla, meaning vine.
Constituents: Sarsasaponin, Sarsaparilloside, Arsasapogenin, various quantities of starch and flavonoids, sarsapac acid, dextrose, certain fatty acids.
Parts Used:Root
Typical Preparations:Root decoction as a tea, powdered in tablets or capsules, made into cold beverages, and seldom found as an extract.
The sarsaparilla plant is used in Jamaica for a number of its believed benefits. It is most popularly used today as a base for tonic drinks that are believed to not only serve as an aphrodisiac but also as a way to increase sexual stamina and libido.
The plant is also believed to beneficial in the treatment of syphilis and chronic diseases such as asthma and rheumatism.
Sarsaparilla is also used to treat gout, fevers, colds, arthritis, gas and persistent belly aches.
There are also some that use the herb to help increase muscle mass due to the high levels of testosterone that are found in the plant.
Excessive use may cause intestinal discomfort. Not recommended for use while pregnant. Not recommended for long term use.