Green"er" Acres Farm

Winter Got You Down?? Try a Spring Tonic!

Winter Got You Down?? Try a Spring Tonic!

So what kind of Spring Tonic are we speaking of? Sassafras tea. Sassafras tea is made from the root and bark of the sassafras tree, a deciduous flowering tree native to North America. The flavor of the tea is reminiscent of root beer, which is why many early recipes for that refreshing beverage include sassafras. Native Americans used sassafras tea as a “spring tonic,” to “purify the blood of winter stagnation.” This shrub or small tree is the first plant to come to life in the spring. When brewed, it develops a pleasing red tea that is highly aromatic.

According to the website, Organic Facts (https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/sassafras-tea.html) While there are health risks to consuming an excess of sassafras tea, this tea can have a positive impact on your liver, circulatory system, immune system, skin, lungs, respiratory tracts and joints. Much of these benefits come from the volatile compounds in the tea, including alpha pinene and antioxidant tannins.

• Immune System – Sassafras tea has been traditionally used in small amounts to treat the symptoms of cold and flu. It can help to reduce nasal congestion and relieve inflammation in the sinus cavities and throat.
• Skin Health – The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of this tea make it particularly effective for skin health. It can aid in the elimination of eczema, psoriasis and other inflammatory issues when consumed in low to moderate amounts.
• Detoxify the Body – As a liver stimulant, sassafras tea can help detoxify the body faster and also cause the body to sweat, which can further eliminate toxins through the skin. This tea also functions as a great diuretic, meaning that it speeds up urination, which is when excess toxins, fats, salt and water can be flushed out of the body. For this reason, sassafras tea is also known to boost kidney health when consumed responsibly.
• Break Fevers – One of the classic uses of this tea is for stubborn fevers that don’t seem to break. Traditional medicine practitioners have been relying on the anti-inflammatory properties of sassafras tea for generations when they need to break a fever and start the healing process.
• Digestion – Small amounts of sassafras tea can help ease digestion by reducing inflammation in the gut and digestive tracts, while also helping regulate your bowel movements, meaning that it can eliminate both diarrhea and constipation.
• Circulation – Sassafras tea has an anticoagulant nature to it that helps with thinning the blood, making it less likely for you to suffer from blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
• Inflammatory Problems – People who suffer from gout, joint disorders and other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, can benefit from the detoxifying and stimulant nature of sassafras tea. When consumed responsibly, this tea can relieve pain and discomfort very effectively.

How to Make Sassafras Tea?

Sassafras tea can be prepared quite easily at home, and only requires sassafras root, a pot of boiling water and a strainer, as well as honey or sweetener to improve the flavor.

1. Purchase or gather sassafras root and wash it thoroughly. Cut off any excess plant material, such as the green of a potential sapling or the tips of the roots.
2. Bring a pot of water to boil and add the roots (a small handful). While the roots steep, the color will begin to change to a deep red or brown.
3. Once the roots have steeped for 5-10 minutes, strain the mixture to separate the roots and any plant material.
4. Add honey or sweetener for flavor.

(Note: Return your root to your pot and cover with water to keep hydrated. Roots can be re-brewed until it losses it color and/or taste (often 2-3 times). [May causes a slight discoloration to your pot, we recommend using an older pot for this tea])
This tea can be served hot or cold, and most herbalists do not recommend more than 1-2 cups per day for no longer than a month. This should be used as a treatment, rather than a consistently used preventative measure, due to the health concerns associated with this tea.

Side Effects of Sassafras Tea

As noted in the above website, There are a number of serious side effects that can result from drinking sassafras tea, including the following: Sweating, High blood pressure, Vomiting, Rashes, Hallucinations, Chronic disease, Cancer, Liver damage, Miscarriages
Safrole is one of the primary active ingredients in sassafras, and it is a proven carcinogen, meaning that it can significantly increase your risk of cancer. In laboratory studies in the 1970’s, lab rats were injected with massive amounts of the pure, extracted safrole oils, which lead to cancer in those rats. This lead to the FDA ban on the oils.
Pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children should avoid using sassafras tea, as it can cause miscarriages for pregnant women, and can cause severe side effects in children (as listed above).
If you are having surgery, drinking sassafras tea can be very dangerous. It slows down the nervous system, which provides some of its health benefits, but in conjunction with anesthesia, the amount of safrole found in this tea can be a major complication, and can be fatal.
Only use sassafras tea in extremely limited quantities, and only with permission from a trained medical practitioner, who can ensure that it won’t have negative interactions with any other prescriptions or medications you may be using.

We are selling our highly-prized sassafras root (not extract) that is harvested in late winter from our own patch of Sassafras Trees behind our house. We then clean and dehydrate it for long term storage.