Sassafras albidum (It is.gov) Lauaraceae

  Sassafras, Nutt, Nees (Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition)

 Sassafrass planted at Bastyr University  student village  in Kenmore Winter 2017

Botanical description:

 The young tree growing at the   student village  at Bastyr university , has  a  pale  greenish   bark with some with ridges  that give  it a very  rough texture to touch  . It has shade all its leaves but has got slender contorted branches all growing upwards that form a pyramidal shape. Sassafras leaves are said to be alternate simple and about 4 to 6 inches long, they are smooth, dark green above and are light green underneath. When the leaves are crushed they are said to give off a sweet spicy smell. The most distinctive thing about   Sassafras is that   it has three types of leaves found on the same tree. The leaves are deciduous and can be entire, two lobbed, three lobbed or sometimes five lobbed. In fall they appear orange –pink, yellow-red or purple. Its twigs are bright green and or sometimes reddish. The fruit is   a dark blue fleshy berry of about ½ to 5inches. Its flowers are showy, yellow in color    and give off a pleasant fragrance. They flower in spring and appear before the leaves unfold .The size ranges from small to medium size, with spreading root suckers with thickets. The entire plant is said to be aromatic thus the   roots, leaves, twigs and fruit all have a spicy odor;  It is said to develop  multiple  trunk  due to the sprouting at the base . Its sprouts are assumed to originate from the root system forming a cluster of showy, grey fissured trunks growing from the soil and this is said to help it invade and colonize old fields and other disturbed places. (Paul)

Parts used

 All parts are spicy and aromatic. The roots, bark, leaves, new shoots, and pith from the branches of sassafras were used extensively for a wide variety of purposes (Burdock.)

Habitat

It is native to Eastern North America  and extends north ward to southern Ontario, South Maine,  extending southward towards Texas and Florida .It prefers  rich soils  in deciduous  woods and  forests , old fields , along fence rows  and disturbed sites . It grows best in well drained Sandy loams with good exposure to sunlight. Common in sparse woods or edges, hedge-rows, old fields (Henkel) although it can grow in poor soils as well. It grows in (zone4-9). It can  be cultivated  because there are some young Sassafrass tress planted at the student village in Bastyr University with  a  climate considered  to  be Marine west coast  with damp , cool winters  and mild , dry summers  (The weather of the pacific north west)

Taste and Energetic properties

 The taste of the dry bark is spicy odor, remiscient of fennel and sweetish, aromatic flavor (Burdock)

It has affinity to blood, Sweet, spicy, cool/warm, stimulating, dry (Wood)

  When I chewed the piece of a dry bark, it was aromatic, pungent and tasted like cinnamon although it wasn’t as astringent   but it left a bitter taste in the mouth after swallowing it caused   a mouth fill. When I took   the tea, it is warming and  I urinated a lot  and  it also  improved  ny  digestion. (Personal experience).

In the Galenic classification it   is grouped among the herbs that thin.

Doctrine of Signatures

It is good for kidney stone because it can be found   growing over large rock formations and covers the sandy barren areas, so it is assumed to help in ceasing and remove from mucus linings and the associated areas. (Mathew wood).

 It is   a circulatory stimulant because it has got clustered showy sprouts coming off the root system that it uses to invade and colonize old field.

Actions and Pharmacodynamics

 Antiplatelet effects: In an in vitro study, the aryl-sulfonamide compounds found in safrole induced platelet aggregation.  Also the  N-[2-(4-carboxymethoxyphenyl)ethyl]-6-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyphe nyl- sulfonamido derivative was found to be  the most active of these compounds, with an IC50 value of 329mcM for the U-46619-induced platelet aggregation in rabbit platelet-rich plasma.

As diuretic , Sassafras  promotes  increased urine  flow and  helps rid  the  kidneys  and bladder  of the impurities  and this  action facilitates  the flushing of uric acid  and other toxins from  the system   and hence treating gout  and rheumatoid arthritis .(Stacy and Michael)

The phenolic constituent in sassafras provides are said to provide it with the Antiseptic actions used for treating eye sores.  (J. K and Cremillin)

            It is a stimulating diaphoretic when used in quantity of hot infusion by dilating surface capillaries, thus helping poor circulation. It is thought that the stimulation of sweat glands occurs because the vessels in the area are dilated; it can also work to support the kidney by increasing the cleansing through the skin.

 It has some laxative effects because    it contains mucilage which works as mild local stimulant and good for moving   lacerated.

It contains Safrole which is said to prevent the usual effects of tobacco when mixed with it and smoked. . (J. K and Cremillin). Safrole is also known carcinogen that may be mediated through 1'-hydroxysafrole formation, followed by sulfonating to an unstable sulfate that reacts to form DNA adducts.

It was also traditionally used as a general tonic that nourishes the body overall good health, also the infused tea made from the bark was taken internally and   applied topically for skin rash.

 Doctor Christopher used it as a spring tonic to thin the blood as it cleanses old sludge from the bloodstream. Good for people   suffering from blood clots and formerly needed to take toxic blood-thinning drugs. There is an active ingredient in the herb called safrole, which is said by the FDA to be dangerously toxic. It is only dangerous in its isolated state. In its wholesome state, within the herb, it is perfectly safe when combined with other constituents of the plant.

Constituents

Volatile oils mainly Safrole   which is   the main constituent at 80%, Pinene and Phellandrene at 10 %, decampor 7% eugenol 0.5%. (Lea and Febiger)

It contains alkaloids , lignans , sterols,  tannins , resins  and essential oil  that is said to  give it the aromatic  smells.( J. K and Cremillin )

Pharmacokinetics:

Insufficient available evidence

Indications and Effects

 Safrole found in sassafras oil and tea is said to be carcinogenic due to increased incidence of esophageal cancer that was noted in areas with habitual sassafras consumption In addition, safrole was found to be hepatotoxic and may inhibit some cytochrome P450 pathways. Safrole also is said to impact the hepatic system as a hepatotoxic and also an in vitro study indicated   safrole as a potent inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, and CYP2E1 and CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 to a lesser degree.(Natural medicine)

It is indicated with herbs and supplements with sedative properties, although theoretical   it is assumed to enhance therapeutic and adverse effects. (Natural medicine)

It is indicated other safrole containing herbs like nutmeg   because it is assumed to increase toxicity. (Natural medicine)

 It is indicated in Lab tests, the Sassafras oil is said to cause false positive blood phenytoin test results. It is indicated in surgery  and thought to have CNS depressant effects  because  theoretically   it  is  assumed to  cause  additive  CNS depression  when combined with anesthesia and other medications  during and after  surgical  procedures  , patients are told to discontinue   at least  2 weeks   before  elective surgery  procedures. (Natural medicine)

Safety/Contraindications

Sassafras is generally recognized as safe for use in foods in the US (Livingstone)

  While pregnant or lactating it is not safe to take orally as Sassafras oil is assumed to be an abortifacient. (Livingstone)

When taken orally it can be fatal and also a few drops of the oil is assumed fatal. (Livingstone)

            It is likely unsafe in children as a few drops is assumed can be fatal. (Livingstone)

Safrole found in sassafras oil and tea is carcinogenic there was Increased incidence of esophageal cancer which was   noted in areas with habitual sassafras consumption. . (Livingstone)

Classic formulas

 Doctor Christopher recommends   mixing 1 1/2 tsp   Sassafras bark, 1 1/2 tsp European goldenrod 1 1/2 tsp Buckbean or bogbean1 1/2 tsp Black cohosh 11/2 tsp Phytolacca decandran , 6 tsp Indian Senna fruit  , 15 tsp Buckthorn, 1 1/2 tsp  Cassia bark  to treat  hardening of the arteries .  To prepare,  mix well  and use 1 teaspoonful of the mixture to each cup of boiling hot water and Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then steep for 10 minutes  strain, sweeten to taste with honey, allow to cool, bottle and leave in a cool place. The dosage is 3 times daily taken before or after meal or to take 1 (00) capsule or ½ teaspoonful of the powder mixed into honey 3 times daily, before or after meals

Preparations and doses

 A hot infusion for a herbal bath, Measure the root bark and   boil it for herbal bath   to treat skin rash.

Decoction of Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, ginger, willow bark and strain it, then mix with Gentian Elixir to make a detox drink.

 Nicely grind the bark and infuse in castor oil to make a base for lip balms.

            The powdered leaves can also be used as a spice on the barbecue meat.

Dosing

Adult

Insufficient available evidence.

Children

Insufficient available evidence.

Standardization and Formulation

There is no well-known standardization for sassafras.

Current literature

 A study was carried out to see if Sassafras albidum can be used to treat Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by Leishmania parasitic protozoa and    lacks   proper treatment .Natural products are said to be promising and the crude bark extract of S. albidum showed excellent antileishmanial activity with an IC50 value less than 12.5 μg/mL against promastigotes of L. amazonensis.

Sustainability/Ecological Issue

 Sassafras  is said to  have  the aggressive  tenderly  to invade  disturbed  areas  or  abandoned  fields . In the 1960’s the FDA made it official that Safrole, the major  chemical in  sassafras oil , causes cancer  in laboratory   animals  and banned it’s use as an  additive .In 1976  the  root, oil  and tea was banned  and only  Safrole  free leaves  remained on the market  and Safrole free root back  extract  is used  in perfumery  as flavoring  for candy  and beverages  to make aromatic . Which would   have limited the use of Sassafras only that Safrole is  the major precursor drug used in making ecstasy   and this could lead to it being exploited  and  also   prohibiting plant  use  makes appear exotic   which  may result into  smuggling  and so on such  which makes  difficult to monitor  its status , Although it is not listed   among the at risk plants  in the planting  for the  future .  It is  still  endangered  and  should be look out  for it .The  all treatment  website  talks  about   how in  Cambodia which is  the  new location  for  exporting safrole ,  is dealing  with  destruction of forests  due to the  growing demand  of  sassafras oil and until  a synthetic  version is  produced  it will  remain greatly endangered.

Combination

 I would combine it with   willow bark to Kidney stone because Sassafras is  a circulatory stimulants which will help flush out the stones and willow  bark which is affinity for the kidney, it contains salicin which is digested  at the kidney .

 I would combine it with   star anise and coriander seeds and Sarsaparilla to make root because star Anise inflammation modulating, coriander   seeds contain proteins and Sarsaparilla will help with absorption of nutrients in the gut , while the sassafras   as a circulatory stimulant  will move things to  the gut .  I would make a nutritive drink.

 I would combine it with Milk thistle  to  make a blood purifying drink  because Milk thistle has  an affinity  for the liver , this  will  support  the  liver detoxification  and hence  purifying the blood .

Personal experience

             I picked interest in the tree because   I thought it was interesting for a tree to have   three different types of   leaves.  I infused   the powder bark in castor oil   and used it as a base for lip balm and it gave it a mild sweet smell. I  also mixed it with Gentian  and decocted  to make  a  syrup, it  was  a dark brown liquid with a bitter taste  and mixed  with chai tea  and Elixir  as a way to preserve it  and  I urinated a lot  and   got rid of the bloating  and my appetite   improved. Although the drink    out to turned out addictive.

Biography

 Anna T Athieno is an herbal science major at Bastyr University; she is also an entrepreneur, an aspiring blogger and is very passionate about nature. She aims to encourage everyone to take charge of their health.

References

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