Feeling Fine With This Ancient Vine: The Benefits of Sarsaparilla

There's 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's been revered by herbalists for hundreds of years to resolve dozens of health problems. Learn the powerful properties of this vine and why Dr. Sebi called it "the spark plug of the body."

"It’s the greatest cleanser you ever had in your life, the sarsaparilla." -Dr. Sebi.

What Is Sarsaparilla?

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 roots are sticky and bitter when first gathered, their goodness is then extracted through drying in the sun and boiling.

Nutrients in Sarsaparilla

• 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: a soothing spectrum of 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 sarsaparilla is the highest concentrated plant for iron; the most powerful agent in reference to iron of any plant.” - Dr. Sebi

Sarsaparilla Benefits

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. People have continued to use it throughout history because of its wide range of health benefits.

• Aphrodisiac: Sarsaparilla boosts sperm mobility, heightens libido in men by increasing blood flow to the penis, increases fertility in women, and improves 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 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 natural sex hormones, elevating healthy sexual functions and desires. But 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.
• Anti-Inflammatory: 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.
• Weight Loss: Sarsaparilla is known to suppress appetite and improve digestion— both of which can help with losing weight.

Sarsaparilla has also been used to improve a wide range of other health conditions, including:

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

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

Other Names for Sarsaparilla

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, who made a tea from the root for coughs and colds, ringworm, and skin conditions. Since then, it’s become popular around the world.

Sarsaparilla is a family of vines with the botanical name Smilax. There are different varieties of sarsaparilla that like to grow throughout tropical parts of the globe. 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

The main sarsaparilla species used commercially are Smilax aristolochiaefolia (Mexican sarsaparilla), Smilax regelii (Honduran sarsaparilla) and Smilax febrifuga (Ecuadorian sarsaparilla). 

Where to Find Sarsaparilla

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. 

How to Prepare Sarsaparilla Tea

Unlocking sarsaparilla's full benefits starts with the right preparation method, and one of the easiest is brewing it into a tea. Here are two ways you can do it:

Sarsaparilla Leaf Tea

1. Take 10 sarsaparilla leaves and put them into a saucepan.
2. Cover the leaves with 2 cups of water.
3. Boil for 3 minutes.
4. Serve in tea cups.

Tip: You can make several teas from the same batch of leaves.

Sarsaparilla Root Tea

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

Dr. Sebi's Sarsaparilla Supplements

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.

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.

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.
• The sarsaparilla vine can grow up to 8 feet long, and the leaves can also be consumed.
• During the Dark Ages in Europe, it was a popular remedy for purification.
• For the Tudors of 15th and 16th Century England, sarsaparilla was a treatment for baldness.
• Between the 15th and 19th centuries, it was a popular treatment for syphilis and venereal diseases, which gave it a worldwide reputation, although this treatment was debunked in the 18th century.

Try Dr. Sebi's Sarsaparilla-Based Formulas

Sarsaparilla is a key ingredient in several of Dr. Sebi's original formulas. Experience it directly:

• Iron Plus — Contains sarsaparilla for blood health, energy, and iron support
• Testo — Men's formula with sarsaparilla for vitality and hormonal balance
• Estro — Women's formula with sarsaparilla for hormonal support
• Banju — Full-spectrum immune and mineral support

👉 Shop All Dr. Sebi Products