Info: 250 ml Tincture, in Amber Bottle
This species of sarsaparilla, Smilax glabra is a climbing shrub in the Lily family which originates from China, and is not the type of tree that was used to flavour root beer and make it foamy. Its roots have anti-allergy, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory properties.
Info: 250 ml Tincture, in Amber Bottle
This species of sarsaparilla, Smilax glabra is a climbing shrub in the Lily family which originates from China, and is not the type of tree that was used to flavour root beer and make it foamy. Its roots have anti-allergy, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory properties.
Product Notes:
The roots of Smilax glabra sarsaparilla have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, and to prevent conditions like leptospirosis (bacterial infections caused by animal bites). The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia also cites it for the treatment of carbuncles [hair follicle infections], scrofula [bacterial infections in the lymph nodes], and scabies [infestations of mites in the skin].
They've also been used for various inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, and are also used for other inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or chronic rheumatism, and also for bacterial dysentery, and to protect the liver. Apparently they also have hypoglycemic properties and have been used clinically in some regions as an antidiabetic agent. Others use this type of tincture as a general tonic.
The indigenous people of Central and South America reportedly valued sarsaparilla for skin ailments, for centuries (see e.g.: Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest, 2nd ed., by Leslie Taylor (Austin, TX: Sage Press, Inc., 2002), and the contemporary herbalist Alan Tillotson has noted several of his psoriasis patients achieved remission or semi-remission for several years, using sarsaparilla root (see The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook, by Alan K. Tillotson (New York: Kensington Publishers; 2001).
Ingredients:
Per ml: 250 mg Sarsaparilla rhizome (Smilax glabra) QCE (1:4)
Non-medicinal ingredients: Distilled Water, Grain Alcohol.
QCE = Quantity Crude Equivalent.
Suggested Usage:
Adults: Take 2 ml (60 drops) 3 times daily in a little water on an empty stomach. Store at room temperature.
Warnings:
Do not use St. Francis Sarsaparilla Tincture if you have a kidney disorder. Keep liquid out of reach of children. Overdoses have been known to cause nausea and vomiting. Consult a healthcare practitioner use before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are taking medications. Consult a healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
Health Canada Natural Product Number: 80061477.
Supporting Science:
Itharat, Arunporn et al. “Anti-Allergic Activities of Smilax glabra Rhizome Extracts and Its Isolated Compounds.” Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet, 2015.
Wu, Hao et al. “Smilax glabra Roxb.: A Review of Its Traditional Usages, Phytochemical Constituents, Pharmacological Properties, and Clinical Applications.” Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 2022.
Zhao, Xinyu et al. “Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Six Flavonoids from Smilax glabra Roxb.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2020.