SARSAPARRILA
(Aralia nudicaulis)
wild sarsaparrila, american sarsaparrila
Description:
An herbaceous perennial with large, fleshy, horizontal, creeping
roots from which grows a large solitary compound leaf. Leaves
twice-divided, each 3 divisions has 3-5 toothed, oval leaflets.
Flower stem comes from root, naked, 1 ft. high, terminating in
3 small, many-flowered greenish umbels. Eastern, central U.S.
in moist woods.
Medicinal:
Carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic. Root tea used for a
pleasant tasting beverage for a spring tonic. The tea or tincture,
a blood purifying tonic, for fevers, coughing, indigestion, gas.
Tea used externally for skin problems, ringworm. Steep 1 tsp.
rootstock in 1 cup water. Take 1-2 cups a day.