S
CRC; PNC); Ataxigenic (1; CAN); Carcinogenic (1; CRC; FAD); Carminative (f; CRC; PNC);
CNS Depressant (1; CAN); Demulcent (1; CRC); Depurative (f; CRC; FAD; PH2; TAD);
Diaphoretic (f; AHP; APA; CRC; PNC); Diuretic (1; CAN; PHR; PH2; PNC); Emetic (f;
DEM); Emmenagogue (f; CRC); Hepatotoxic (1; CRC); Nephrotoxic (1; PH2); Pediculicide
(1; APA; CAN; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC); Tonic (f; DEM); Tumorigenic (1; APA); Vermicide
(f; CRC).
Indications (Sassafras) — Acne (f; APA; CRC); Ague (f; DEM); Alcoholism (f; CRC);
Anorexia (f; DEM); Arthrosis (f; FAD; SPI); Bronchosis (f; APA; CRC; FAD); Bruise (f; CRC;
DEM; FEL); Burn (f; DEM); Cancer (f; CRC); Cancer, bone (f; JLH); Cataract (f; DEM);
Catarrh (f; CRC; PHR); Childbirth (f; DEM; FEL); Cold (f; DEM; FAD); Conjunctivosis (f;
CRC); Constipation (f; DEM; SPI); Cough (f; DEM); Cystosis (f; DEM; FEL); Dermatosis (f;
APA; CRC; DAW; FAD; PH2); Diarrhea (f; DEM); Dropsy (f; CRC); Dysentery (f; CRC);
Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; FEL); Dyspepsia (f; DEM); Dysuria (f; DEM); Enterosis (f; FAD;
FEL); Fever (1; AHP; APA; CAN; CRC; DEM; FAD; PNC); Flu (f; APA); Gallstone (f; DEM);
Gangrene (f; FEL); Gas (f; CRC; PNC); Gastrosis (f; CRC; SPI); Gleet (f; CRC; FEL);
Gonorrhea (f; CRC; FEL); Gout (f; APA; FAD; HH2); Gravel (f; SPI); Heart (f; DEM); Hepatosis
(f; FAD; SPI); High Blood Pressure (f; APA; CRC; FAD); Impotence (f; DEM); Infertility (f;
SPI); Inflammation (f; CRC; PH2); Mastosis (f; APA); Measles (f; APA; CRC; DEM); Mucososis
(f; PH2); Nausea (f; DEM); Nephrosis (f; CRC; FAD; FEL); Obesity (f; DEM); Ophthalmia (f;
CRC; DEM; FAD; FEL); Osteosarcoma (f; JLH); Pain (f; APA; CAN; CRC; DEM); Parotosis
(f; CRC); Pneumonia (f; CRC); Poison Ivy (f; APA; FEL); Puerperium (f; APA); Pulmonosis
(f; FAD); Rash (f; DEM); Respirosis (f; CRC; HH2); Rheumatism (f; APA; CAN; FAD; FEL;
HH2; PH2; PNC); Scarlet Fever (f; DEM); Scrofula (f; FEL); Sore (f; DEM); Sore Throat (f;
DEM); Sprain (f; CRC; FEL); Stomachache (f; DEM; FAD); Stone (f; SPI); Swelling (f; CRC;
DEM; FEL); Syphilis (f; APA; CRC; FEL; PHR; PH2); Tapeworm (f; DEM); Typhus (f; CRC);
UTI (f; PHR; PH2); VD (f; CRC; PH2); Water Retention (1; CAN; PHR; PH2; PNC); Worm
(f; CRC; DEM); Wound (f; DEM).
Dosages (Sassafras) — Should not be used (APA; CAN; PH2); 2–4 g root bark, or in tea, 3 ×/day
(CAN); 1 tsp (3 g) root bark/cup water (PH2); 2–4 ml liquid root bark extract (PNC); 2–4 ml liquid
root bark extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 5 g tincture (PH2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Sassafras) — Class 2d. Not for long-term
use. Do not exceed recommended dose (10 g root bark; 2–4 ml liquid extract thereof) (AHP).
Sassafras wood contains 1–2% EO, consisting of about 80% of the toxic and hepatocarcinogenic
compound safrole; prolonged use is generally discouraged. CAN reports that safrole in the volatile
oil is carcinogenic and genotoxic. Because of abortifacient activity of the oil and hepatotoxicity
of safrole, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Even safrole-free extracts have
reportedly caused tumors. Major symptoms of toxicity include ataxia, depression, and diarrhea,
followed by death within 4 hours to 7 days. Rats with safrole in their diet at levels of 0.25% to
1% exhibit biliary proliferation, growth retardation, liver necrosis, primary hepatomas, stomach
atrophy, and testicular atrophy. “Sassafras should not be used, internally or externally” (CAN).
Extracts (Sassafras) — LD50 of safrole 1950 mg/kg orl rat, 2350 mg/kg orl mus. HOH and ETOH
extracts elicit ataxia, CNS depression, hypersensitivity to touch, and hypothermia in mice. Oil used
as an antiseptic, carminative, and pediculicide. Reportedly hallucinogenic. High doses may cause
spasm followed by paralysis. Safrole reportedly induces both cytochrome P-488 and P-450 activity,
and both induces and inhibits hepatic microsomal enzymes, with activity falling after the onset of
hepatic toxicity. Putting the risks into perspective, CAN notes that levels of 0.66 mg/kg may prove
hazardous to humans, and a cup of tea may provide nearly five times that much. I prefer my
perspective based on Bruce Ames’s Herp Index, in which one learns that sassafras tea for its safrole
is^1 / 13 th as carcinogenic as beer for its ethanol.