Sarsaparilla
Scientific names: Smilax febrifuga, Smilax aristolochiifolia (Mexican Sarsaparilla), Smilax medica, Smilax regelii (Honduran Sarsaparilla), Smilax ornata, Smilax officinalis, Smilax china
Family: Smilacaceae
Alternate names: Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla, Gray Sarsaparilla, Honduras Sarsaparilla, Jamaican Sarsaparilla, Liseron Épineux, Liseron Piquant, Mexican Sarsaparilla, Salsaparilha, Salsepareille, Salsepareille d'Europe, Salsepareille du Honduras, Salsepareille du Mexique, Sarsa, Sarsaparillae Radix, Sarsaparillewurzel, Smilax, Smilax Aristolochaefolia, Smilax Aristolochiaefolii, Zarzaparrilla
Actions: Antiarthritic activity, Anticancer properties, Antifungal activity, Antiviral activity, Hepatoprotective activity, Immunomodulatory activity
Background
Sarsaparilla is a group of plants that grow in tropical parts of the world. There are about 350 species, including Smilax officinalis and Smilax glabra.
Chemicals in sarsaparilla might help decrease pain and swelling. Some chemicals might also help kill cancer cells or slow down their growth.
People use sarsaparilla for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse sarsaparilla with German sarsaparilla. These are not the same.
Chemicals in sarsaparilla might help decrease pain and swelling. Some chemicals might also help kill cancer cells or slow down their growth.
People use sarsaparilla for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse sarsaparilla with German sarsaparilla. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Sarsaparilla is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if sarsaparilla is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine. It might cause upset stomach when used in large amounts.
Kidney disease: Sarsaparilla might make kidney disease worse. Avoid sarsaparilla if you have kidney problems.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if sarsaparilla is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Kidney disease: Sarsaparilla might make kidney disease worse. Avoid sarsaparilla if you have kidney problems.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using sarsaparilla for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Traditionally, sarsaparilla is brewed in a tea. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of sarsaparilla might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Sarsaparilla can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the side effects of digoxin. This can increase the risk of heart damage.
Lithium
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Sarsaparilla might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking sarsaparilla might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs that contain cardiac glycosides: Sarsaparilla can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the side effects of chemicals called cardiac glycosides. This can increase the risk of heart damage. Examples of supplements that contain cardiac glycosides include black hellebore, foxglove, lily-of-the-valley, oleander, and pleurisy root.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Smilax china (Sarsaparilla) ext. 75 mg
- Rosa laevigata ext. 93 mg
- Lygodium japonicum ext. 52 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Smilax china (Sarsaparilla) ext. 75 mg
- Lygodium japonicum ext. 52 mg
- Rosa laevigata ext. 93 mg
RRP: $56.95$38.72Save: 32%
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Per capsule:
- Smilax glabra (Tu Fu Ling) ext. 52.44 mg
- Lonicera japonica ext. 68.19 mg
- Spatholobus suberectus ext. 52.44 mg
- Forsythia suspensa ext. 15.72 mg
- Luffa cylindrical ext. 15.72 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 15.72 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 15.72 mg
- Paris polyphylla ext. 10.5 mg
- Sparganium stoloniferum ext. 10.5 mg
- Curcuma zedoaria ext. 10.5 mg
- Gleditsia sinensis ext. 10.5 mg
- Campsis grandiflora ext. 9.45 mg
- Dictamnus dasycarpus ext. 6.3 mg
- Saposhnikovia divaricata ext. 6.3 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Smilax glabra (Tu Fu Ling) ext. 36.9 mg
- Lonicera japonica ext. 36.9 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 29.4 mg
- Plantago asiatica ext. 29.4 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 22.2 mg
- Bassia scoparia ext. 22.2 mg
- Dictamnus dasycarpus ext. 22.2 mg
- Cynanchum stauntonii ext. 22.2 mg
- Schizonepeta tenuifolia ext. 22.2 mg
- Sophora flavescens ext. 22.2 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12 mg
- Angelica dahurica ext. 22.2 mg
Practitioner product
Per serve:
- Smilax sieboldii (Sarsaparilla) ext. 50 mg
- Cistanche salsa ext. 200 mg
- Trigonella foenum-graecum ext. 500 mg
- Eurycoma longifolia ext. 100 mg
- Asphaltum punjabinum (Shilajit) 240 mg
- Magnesium citrate 160 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 3.5 mg
- Zinc citrate 12 mg
- Spilanthes acmella ext. 400 mg
- Boron citrate 10 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 µg
- Silicon dioxide
RRP: $89.95$71.96Save: 20%
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Per 5 g:
- Smilax officinalis (Sarsaparilla)
- Turnera diffusa (leaf)
- Panax ginseng
- Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Mucuna pruriens
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Coconut water powder
- Tribulus terrestris
- Hebanthe eriantha
- Panax notoginseng
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Natural apple flavour
- Myrica rubra (berry) powder (Yumberry)
RRP: $44.95$38.20Save: 15%
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Per serve:
- Sarsaparilla
- Equisetum hyemale
- Levothyroxine sodium
- Myosotis arvensis
- Pinus sylvestris (Pine)
- Scrophularia nodosa
- Nasturtium aquaticum
- Aranea diadema
- Calcium phosphate (Calc phos)
- Ferrum iodatum
- Fumaria officinalis
- Gentiana lutea
- Geranium robertianum
- Teucrium scorodonia
- Veronica officinalis
- Sodium sulphate anhydrous
- Juglans regia (Walnut)
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 03/10/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 01/11/2022 08:49:01. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
