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Health benefits about sassafras has been known to native Americans for over centuries. They have used the roots, leaves and bark in various forms to cure a number of ailments. As soon as the Europeans got to know about the various uses of this tree, its popularity soared all over the world. Although the various parts of the tree are consumed, there has been a recent spurt in interest in sassafras tea health benefits.
Sassafras Tea Health Benefits
To make sassafras tea, roots or leaves of the tree are brewed in water for about 20 minutes. Lemon and sugar are added by some, however, this is optional. Some even brew the root in maple syrup to make tea. This can also be concentrated into a jelly instead of being consumed as a beverage. Sassafras tea recipe is simple, some drink the tea for its flavor whereas others consume it for its medicinal use. Read more on basic facts on tea.
Sassafras 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 sassafras tea benefits is that it helps in eliminating toxins from the body. It may also be useful as a diuretic. It is claimed that sassafras tea leaves have active ingredients that help those who suffer from Arthritis and rheumatic conditions. Sassafras tea is known to provide relief during cold and flu. The tea is believed to be effective in providing relief to those suffering from bronchitis. The tea has shown result in working against gastrointestinal problems, kidney ailments and skin eruptions.
Despite its various uses, one must also bear in mind that this tea may cause allergic reactions that will manifest as itching, inflammation of the skin and difficulty in breathing. Other side effects include loss of mental balance, confusion, vomiting and dip in body temperature to name a few. In case of any discomfort, discontinue the consumption of the tea and call your physician immediately. You may also be interested in herbal tea and herbal tea recipes.
Controversy Over Sassafras Tea Health Benefits
The active ingredients of sassafras are safrole, tannins, mucilage, asarone and alpha-pinene. However, there are some safety concerns regarding the consumption of safrole. This is something that has tainted the image of this tree that has been popularly used in the traditional medicines of the native Americans. Experiments on mice revealed that safrole triggered liver cancer in the animals. It is feared that it may have the same effect in human beings. Hence, the FDA has banned sassafras tea and also the use of sassafras in foods and beverages. However, herbalists are of the opinion that isolated experiments where purified compounds from the tree were injected into mice cannot be accurately relied upon to determine the toxicity of the plant. Nevertheless, many people do drink the tea. However, prolonged consumption of the tea is generally discouraged. Also pregnant women, nursing mothers and also, those with heart and kidney problems are advised against drinking sassafras tea.
There are many who profess sassafras tea health benefits. But due to the controversy surrounding safrole, it is always useful to do a thorough research before starting to drink this tea.
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What is the synonym for the word sassafras tea?
Sassafras tea is sassafras tea, there are no synonyms.
Does sassafras tea have caffeine?
NO
What is so special about sassafras tree leaves?
Sassafras is a deciduous tree that grows in the Midwest and possibly other areas of the United States. Its roots can be used to make Sassafras tea.
Is sassafras tea okay to drink if it is safrole free?
Yes, the benefits outweigh anything.
What research has been done on sassafras?
Many reputable studies, however, indicate that there is a definite health hazard in using even small amounts of sassafras either as oil or tea.
What are sasafras herbs good for?
Sassafras tea makes a good "blood purifier." It promoting perspiration and urination. It is used in the teatment of gout, arthritis, and skin problems. Amerinds used an infusion (tea) of sassafras roots to bring down a fever.
How does one go about making their own sassafras tea?
Get dried sassafras roots, (or just sassafras roots, and dry them out yourself) water, and sugar. Strip the bark from the roots once they are dry. Boil the roots in a quart of water for around 20 minutes and then allow it to seep until it cools. Add sugar as you would to iced tea. Add more water to make it about a gallon.
How was sassafras taken traditionally?
Sassafras should not be used. In times past, before its potentially harmful effects were recognized, it was available as a volatile oil, as bark that could be brewed into tea, and as a component of tonic formulas and tonic teas.
What is a Sassafras?
A small tree that grows in much of the US. It's fragrant bark and roots are often used to make tea.
Is tea carcinogenic?
Sassafras should not be taken internally or used for healing except for topical applications. In the 1960s scientists determined that the volatile oil derived from sassafras root contains http://www.answers.com/topic/safrole as its chief component. Safrole is a known http://www.answers.com/topic/carcinogen in animal studies. Safrole in concentrations of 80-90%, similar to its concentration in the volatile oil, produced tumors in the livers of laboratory animals. In 1960 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned sassafras volatile oil as a food and flavoring additive. In 1976 it prohibited the interstate shipment of sassafras bark for making tea. A safrole-free sassafras extract is now available; however, there are questions about its potentially cancer-causing properties. Prior to the discovery that sassafras contains a carcinogen, it had a long and widespread history of use as a folk medicine. Native Americans used sassafras to cure many different conditions, but especially as a spring blood tonic. Before long, Native Americans introduced the European settlers to sassafras. It became a sought-after herb in Europe. Sassafras root bark was imported from the United States, and sassafras trees were also planted in Europe. Sassafras tea, sold under the name saloop, was a popular beverage in London.
What is the scientific name for sassafras leaf?
Sassafras albidum.
Is sassafras a simple or compound leaf?
The Sassafras is a compound broadleaf
