SALSAPARRILLA
zarzaparrillasmilax aspera
SALSAPARRILLA
zarzaparrillasmilax aspera
Other Names:
SALSAPARRILLA
,
Grapes of Dog
,
Bush Morisca
.
Known by Dioscorides and Theophrastus, also mentioned the Laguna and Mattioli. However, his popularity reached the highest levels when the Spanish used the name of
sarsaparilla
to several
American
species of the genus Smilax (seventeenth century) including:
Mexican
sarsaparilla
or Veracruz (Smilax aristolochiifolia Miller) which as its name suggests is mainly in Veracruz and elsewhere in
Mexico
.
Sarsaparilla
of Honduras (Smilax regelii Killip.
Morton
) typical of
Central
America
and the Caribbean.
Jamaican
sarsaparilla
(Smilax of -
ficinalis
Kunth. Which occurs in
Central
America
and the Caribbean.
Sarsaparilla
Lisbon (Smilax spruceana ADC) also called for
Marañón
or Pará,
Brazil
itself
.
Philippine
sarsaparilla
(Smilax leu - cophylla Blume) which is grown in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The composition and properties of all these species of the genus Smilax are very similar to the rough and
sarsaparilla
were used by the Indians as depurativas, and as they attributed healing powers on
syphilis
, raised great expectations, which are then proved unfounded.
Habitat:
Dry forests of
Central
and South
America
and southern Europe.
Description:
subshrub thorny for the
family
of Liliaceae, which climbs
a
tree up to 40 m in height. Its leaves are large, lined with
thorns
and with
a
heart - shaped. The flowers are white and soft fruit or blackish.
Used parts:
the rhizome and root.
Properties and indications:
glycosides contain saponin, resin and
essential
oil, which give it diuretic properties,
sudorific
, depurativas, snacks and invigorating. It favors the elimination of urea, uric acid and other
organic
waste, and lowers the level of
cholesterol
in the blood. It is used in the following cases:
Rheumatism, arthritism, gout.
Diseases
of the kidneys:
kidney stones
,
nephritis
,
kidney failure
.
Febrile
diseases
:
influenza
, tropical fevers, and so on.
Inappetence, heavy digestions.
Dermatological conditions:
acne
and eczema.
In the treatment of
syphilis
may be interesting
but
only as
a
supplement to the
specific
treatment for its purifying action.
Use:
infuse with 30 - 40 grams of rhizomes or root crushed in
a
liter
of water, which consume 3 to 5 cups
a
day before meals.
Precautions:
High doses cause nausea and vomiting. Not recommended for the consumption of
berries
in the
sarsaparilla
. Not to be confused with those of their
berries
or nuts of the
ivy
, which are very toxic.
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