What is sassafras

Traditional root beer was usually alcoholic, whereas modern root beer is rarely fortified with ethanol and is a favourite of kids everywhere. Enter your keywords. Sign-Up Here. Ada McVean B. What to read next A Broccoli Conundrum 1 Oct Health Topics. Health Tools. Alternative Health. By Julie-Ann Amos. Reviewed: November 14, When it comes to natural supplements and food additives with a bad reputation, sassafras makes the list.

This particular tree-based herbal supplement has a recorded use that goes back centuries. It is a noted ingredient in everything from tea to gumbo, but despite its popularity among Native Americans and early settlers, the use of sassafras does come with some hefty warnings.

Whether used in sassafras cooking, baking or drinking, there are some compelling reasons to stay away from this plant product, once considered a powerful tonic. If you are considering harvesting your own sassafras or seeking it out in ready-made supplement or extract form, it is worth learning more before diving into the use of sassafras. What Is Sassafras? Sassafras is a tree commonly found throughout the eastern United States that grows up to about 60 feet in height.

Sassafras flowers are small, attractive, bright yellow-to-green blossoms. The tree is also commonly called cinnamon wood, saloop, ague and even saxifras. In recipes for sassafras cooking and herbal remedies both, it is the root or bark of the root that is most commonly used. The leaves, however, are indicated in some recipes for sassafras tea.

In one death reported in the media, Sassafras was reported by witnesses as the culprit agent. A chemical is designated as List I by the DEA if in addition to legitimate uses, it is used in manufacturing a controlled substance or is important to the manufacture of a controlled substance.

Any more information on Sassafras? Feel free to Tweet at us umasstox. A US Department of Justice advisory on safrole and sassafras oil.

A news story on a death attributed to sassafras in Chicago. Posted in: Emerging Drugs , General Audience. This refers to not being able to feel pleasure. An older study cautions against using it with monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. The effects of sassafras can also be risky for people with certain underlying medical conditions, including physical and mental health conditions. Schedule I drugs are considered to have no accepted medical use and have a high potential for misuse.

Using sassafras comes with several risks, especially for certain groups of folks. Healthline does not endorse the use of any illegal substances, and we recognize abstaining from them is always the safest approach. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using. If you or someone you know might be struggling with substance use , we recommend learning more and consulting a professional to get additional support.

The higher the dose of sassafras, the more toxic it becomes. Taking too much or combining it with other substances can increase your risk for an overdose. Sassafras can also cause a drastic spike in your body temperature that can lead to kidney failure and death. Other signs that may indicate a sassafras overdose include high blood pressure and rapid breathing and heart rate. Signs of an overdose can vary depending on the type of drug you take.

Remember, sassafras may be cut with other chemicals, so you may have an unexpected reaction. But as with molly, the more you use sassafras, the more tolerance you build to it. Sassafrass tea has a long-standing reputation as a powerful medicinal herb, but its use has garnered controversy over the past few decades. Molly is detectable in bodily fluids one to three days after ingestion.