Littleflowers Medicine of North American Plants

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Description: A native perennial plant with long yellow-brown roots that have a sweet spicy taste. The fragrant roots are used for different reasons. The flowers, which come out from May through July, are small and green-white in color. The plant produces purple-black berries about the size of elderberry.

Habitat: Wild sarsaparilla is widespread throughout cool upland woods.

Range: From Newfoundland south to the Carolinas and west through the Great Plains.

Wild sarsaparilla feeds many different animals. The Black Bear and the Grizzly Bear eat the berries. Caribou and deer eat the whole plant and moose love it. Birds like ruffled grouse and thrushes eat the seeds.

Sarsaparilla is a useful in diseases of the breast and lungs. It is a "sweating out" medicine

Native Use:

The Lenape apply sarsaparilla root to fresh wounds after the blood stops.

The Cree use this root for syphilis and as a dressing for wounds.

The Meskwaki mix sarsaparilla root with prickly ash in a tea. It gives strength to a sick person and cures kidney trouble.

The Huron called this plant 'oscar'. It is highly esteemed for curing illness. It does wonders in healing all kinds of wounds, ulcers, and sores.

Common Names: Shotbush, Rabbit Root, Bamboo Brier

Medical Use: Psoriasis, Rheumatism, Eczema

Sarsaparilla is recommended for skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis. It also is effective in treating liver disorders and has a long history of treating syphilis, chronic rheumatism, and skin diseases. It makes an excellent digestive aid and appetite stimulant.

Other preparations: As a tincture, 10-30 drops.

Part Used: Root, Rhizome

Preparation/Dosage:
1 cup 2-3 x daily (Decoction)

Organs/Systems Affected:
Blood, Liver, Urinary

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