Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Sarsaparilla By Adrienne Dellwo linkedin Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Emily Dashiell, ND on May 25, 2020 facebook linkedin Emily Dashiell, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor who has worked in group and private practice settings over the last 15 years. She is in private practice in Santa Monica, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Emily Dashiell, ND on May 25, 2020 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Table of Contents View All Health Benefits Treating Cancer Protecting the Skin Inflammation and Pain Improving Kidney Function Increasing Muscle Mass Possible Side Effects Dosage and Preparation What to Look for Other Questions Sarsaparilla is a woody, tropical vine that’s found in Mexico, South America, Jamaica, the Caribbean, Honduras, and the West Indies. It comes in several different forms that are all known by the botanical name Smilax. Its other common names include Liseron epineux, Liseron piquant, Salsaparilha, Zarzaparrilla, Khao yern, and Jupicanga, among others. It's also common to refer to sarsaparilla with the name of the country where it's found (Chinese sarsaparilla or Mexican sarsaparilla, for instance). Sarsaparilla is not to be confused, however, with Indian sarsaparilla—also known as fake sarsaparilla—which is another plant altogether. Health Benefits Many parts of the sarsaparilla plant are used as flavorings in foods and beverages. Interestingly, in the United States, the once-common drink named sarsaparilla—commonly associated with the Old West—didn’t actually contain any ingredients from the plant; it contained flavoring from the sassafras plant. The sarsaparilla root has been used medicinally for centuries. It is sometimes used in alternative medicine today, and it has been studied to a degree by modern scientists. Some health claims may be accurate if preliminary studies are correct; however, some claims are false or have yet to be investigated. In old folk medicine and alternative medicine, you run across often-unsubstantiated claims that the sarsaparilla root is effective in a variety of ways, including: Preventing and treating cancerLowering inflammationIncreasing sex driveBoosting the immune systemImproving weight lossTreating skin problems (such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis)Detoxifying the bodyRelieving digestive problemsImproving kidney healthIncreasing muscle mass from working outTreating syphilis None of these claims are considered proven by medical science, and sarsaparilla hasn’t been studied for all of them. Some of these uses have limited support from preliminary studies that suggest sarsaparilla could show these effects, but it’s too early in the process to know for certain. Other claims have been disproven. The medicinal uses that research has shown some support for include: Treating cancerProtecting the skinLessening inflammation and painImproving kidney function Treating Cancer Sarsaparilla is believed to be an antioxidant, which means that it can lower your body’s levels of free radicals. Free radicals are essentially molecules that are out of balance, and high levels of them are believed to contribute to many diseases, including cancer. So far, several studies suggest that sarsaparilla extract can slow the growth and migration of cancer cells, and possibly even kill them. The results are from cancer cells in a lab and were also seen in mice. However, we haven’t seen any human trials yet. Still, these promising early results may well lead to studies on humans down the road. Researchers have identified a couple of mechanisms that they believe are at work in the anti-cancer processes of sarsaparilla. In one study published in PLoS One, a peer-reviewed science journal, Chinese scientists found that sarsaparilla was able to stop cancer from spreading by inhibiting signaling of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1). Later, the journal Nutrition and Cancer published a paper by many of the same researchers that suggested sarsaparilla promoted beneficial changes in cancerous cells that slowed growth and increased cellular death. Only time will tell whether these findings will be supported by further investigation, but the early results do appear promising. Protecting the Skin Sarsaparilla’s antioxidant status may also make it beneficial to the health of your skin. In a study out of Korea, researchers wanted to see whether folk beliefs about sarsaparilla and the skin were scientifically verifiable. They found that the root appeared to significantly inhibit oxidative damage and slow some processes associated with aging, which makes sense since these are known effects of antioxidants. Sarsaparilla also seemed to increase several beneficial substances in the body and decrease destructive ones. The study concluded that sarsaparilla root can protect collagen production from damage due to rays of the sun. This should contribute to having skin appear younger and healthier. Additionally, a study published in an edition of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy suggested that a substance in sarsaparilla called astilbin shows promise as a treatment for the skin condition psoriasis. Inflammation and Pain A few preliminary studies support the claims that sarsaparilla is an anti-inflammatory, which could mean it has a role in treating inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Another study suggested that two extracts of the sarsaparilla plant were able to suppress multiple causes of inflammation, including nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. The journal Steroids published a paper that suggested numerous anti-inflammatory activities in a laboratory setting. Again, the work is in the early stages, but the body of research is growing and much of it appears to agree with these results. This promising start may prompt further research. Improving Kidney Function Chinese researchers looked at the potential of astilbin derived from Chinese sarsaparilla, mentioned above as a potential psoriasis treatment, for improving kidney function. Oxidative stress, which is associated with free radicals and nitric oxide, can be harmful to the kidneys. As an antioxidant, astilbin appears to suppress oxidative stress and thereby offers some kidney protection. Researchers say astilbin also inhibited a process that’s hazardous to the kidneys in mice with abnormally high levels of uric acid in their blood, which can be the result of kidney disease. It also appeared to play an anti-inflammatory role. Sarsaparilla also has been shown to increase urine output, which can be beneficial to the kidneys and help prevent or relieve fluid retention. Other preliminary studies appear to support these results. These kinds of findings may be used to support claims of sarsaparilla’s “detoxifying” properties. The need to detox isn’t supported by medical science in people without severe liver and/or kidney disease. These organs, when functioning properly, prevent toxins from building up in your body. Therefore, it is important to be careful with any products claiming to detoxify you. Be sure to consult with a doctor first. Increasing Muscle Mass A claim that science refutes is that the body can use sarsaparilla in the same way it uses anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass from working out. These types of steroids are not found in sarsaparilla, so this claim is highly unlikely. Even so, some supplement blends that purport to increase muscle mass do contain sarsaparilla. Possible Side Effects Sarsaparilla is generally considered a safe supplement with few side effects. High doses may result in stomach upset. An allergic reaction is possible. Because it's a diuretic and increases urine output, it is best not to take sarsaparilla while you're dehydrated. There is no data on sarsaparilla’s safety for pregnancy or breastfeeding, so the recommendation is usually to avoid it during these times. Dosage and Preparation So far, there is no recommended dosage for sarsaparilla. Amounts in supplement preparations vary, and quite often, specific amounts aren’t listed on the label. The effect of sarsaparilla may vary depending on which specific type of sarsaparilla plant is used, and depending on which parts are included. The root is most often used medicinally, but you sometimes find leaves or berries used as well. If you’re considering sarsaparilla supplementation, be sure to talk to your doctor and pharmacist about dosages and forms, as well as any potential risks based on your medical history and any medications you may be taking. What to Look for You can find sarsaparilla supplements in numerous forms including capsules, tablets, tinctures, and powders. Modern forms of the drink called sarsaparilla don’t generally contain any part of the plant—it may not even contain the plant that the drink was made from historically (sassafras). Instead, most of them now contain artificial flavors. That means drinking sarsaparilla soda will not give you the same benefits that consuming the root might. Other Questions Since sarsaparilla is natural, does that mean it is safe to add as a supplement to my diet? A lot of people believe that if something is natural, that means it’s perfectly safe. That’s not always the case. Many natural treatments have potentially dangerous side effects, can interact negatively with medications, and can even be toxic. How do I know if sarsaparilla will negatively interact with my current medications? You should always use caution with natural treatments and follow your doctor’s dosing recommendations. Your pharmacist or health care provider can help you identify any potential problems with adding supplements to your treatment regimen. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lu CL, Wei Z, Min W, et al. Polysaccharides from Smilax glabra inhibit the pro-inflammatory mediators via ERK1/2 and JNK pathways in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Carbohydrate polymers. 2015 May 20;122:428-36. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.11.035 Park G, Kim TM, Kim JH, Oh MS. Antioxidant effects of the sarsaparilla via scavenging of reactive oxygen species and induction of antioxidant enzymes in human dermal fibroblasts. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology. 2014 Jul;38(1):305-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.06.009 She T, Feng J, Lian S, et al. Sarsaparilla (Smilax glabra rhizome) extract activates redox-dependent ATM/ATR pathway to inhibit cancer cell growth by S phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy. Nutrition and cancer. 2017 Nov-Dec;69(8):1281-1289. DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2017.1362447 She t, Zhao C, Feng J, et al. Sarsaparilla (Smilax glabra rhizome) extract inhibits migration and invasion of cancer cells by suppressing TGF- ß1 pathway. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 5;10(3):e0118287. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118287 Wang M, Zhao J, Zhang N, Chen J. Astilbin improves potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia and kidney injury through regulation oxidative stress and inflammation response in mice. Biomedicine and pharmacology. 83:975-988. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.07.025 400 Zhang C, Xu Q, Tan X, et al. Astilbin decreases proliferation and improves differentiation in HaCaT keratinocytes. Biomedicine and pharmacotherapy. 93:713-720. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.05.127 Zhou M, Huang L, Li L, et al. New furostanol saponins with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities from the rhizomes of Smilax davidiana. Steroids. 2017 Nov;127:62-68. DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.08.013