2006-12-25 14:05:54 · 6 answers · asked by bodeen 2 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
It is my understanding that Sassafras tea is good as a blood thinner. The risks are as follows:
The FDA has determined that sassafras has been known to cause cancer in rats. The reason is because of the safrole that is found in the roots and bark of the tree is a carcinogen. We also read that this causes cancer less than what alcohol causes cancer. The FDA banned sassafras tea in 1976.
Within Sassafras there is a chemical called safrole. Safrole is a very common plant chemical, found in Mace, Nutmeg, basil, black pepper, Rosemary, Dill, Black tea, Dang Gui, Tamarind, Cinnamon, witch hazel, Asian wild ginger, and many other plants.
Someone did a study demonstrating that this substance was carcinogenic in rats. Dr. James Duke reports that even if this same carcinogenicity were applicable to humans, a cup of sassafras tea would be 1/14 as carcinogenic as a cup of beer. Sassafras has been banned by the FDA as a commercial product, unless it has had the safrole removed.
2006-12-28 05:18:12 · answer #1 · answered by wall_id_pike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Summary
"An overriding consideration in this entire matter of the safety and efficacy of sassafras is that the plant material has no really significant medical or therapeutic utility. Sassafras oil, in common with large number of volatile oils, does possess some mild counter irritant properties on external application, but beyond these, none of the claims of its supporters has been documented in the modern medical literature. Despite its pleasant flavor and its folkloric reputation as a useful tonic, prudent people will avoid this drug because of its potentially harmful qualities." (Tyler)
"Sassafras should not be used internally or externally." (Newall)
2006-12-25 15:20:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
i am sure some people still do and if i were able to dig the roots(of the red sassafras) i would still drink it in the spring. the blood gets thicker in the winter(cold weather) and the sassafras tea acts as a blood thinner. we always had a pot on the wood stove in early spring when i was a child. i added milk and sugar to mine.
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2016-04-14 11:36:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When used in moderation, unless you already have problems you shouldn't experience any bad side effects at all.
2006-12-25 16:28:14 · answer #4 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sassaf20.html
2006-12-25 16:29:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sassafrass or sassparilla or any type sass sassy or formulatoin thereof
2006-12-25 18:33:38 · answer #6 · answered by jay b 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋