Sassafras Root Bark C/S (Sassafras albidum) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. The original true flavor of root beer comes from sassafras root. Because sassafras root contains safrole, it cannot be sold in the US for human consumption. Sassafras root bark may be sold, although it too contains safrole, but it is not very good at providing flavor to the beverage. Sassafras grows wild in much of the Eastern US. Safrole is an MDMA precursor and is itself psychoactive. Sassafras generates an extremely sweet-spicy smoke, useful in smoking meats. American Indians used an infusion of sassafras root to bring down a fever. They also smoked, in a pipe, the root bark, which is highly aromatic and inebriating. Safrole occurs in over 70 essential oils derived from botanical sources (e.g. black pepper, nutmeg). It is a major constituent of the aromatic oil present in sassafras root bark. Despite the reported carcinogenicity of safrole and related compounds, it is known to display antibacterial and antiviral activity. Right before World War l, scientific research discovered that people who drank sassafras root tea were more resistant to severe sore throat infections and colds than those individuals who did not. Continued medical research was interrupted by the war, and later studies were curtailed by the development of modern antibiotics. But finally, research was resumed and it was found that sassafras has a general antiseptic power, and that it also induces the liver to cleanse toxins from the system. Grieve"™s classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The fragrant oil distilled from the rootbark is extensively used in the manufacture of the coarser kinds of perfume, and for scenting the cheapest grades of soap. The oil used in perfumes is also extracted from the fruits. The wood and bark of the tree furnish a yellow dye.' 'In Louisiana, the leaves are used as a condiment in sauces, and also for thickening soups; while the young shoots are used in Virginia for making a kind of beer. Mixed with milk and sugar, Sassafras Tea, under the name of 'Saloop, ' could, until a few years ago, be bought at London streetcorners in the early mornings.' 'Aromatic, stimulant, diaphoretic, alterative. It is rarely given alone, but is often combined with guaiacum or sarsaparilla in chronic rheumatism, syphilis, and skin diseases.' 'The oil is said to relieve the pain caused by menstrual obstructions, and pain following parturition, in doses of 5 to 10 drops on sugar, the same dose having been found useful in gleet and gonorrhoea.' King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Sassafras is a warm, aromatic stimulant, alterative, diaphoretic, and diuretic. It is generally used in combination with other alteratives, particularly podophyllum, whose flavor it improves, in syphilitic affections, chronic rheumatism, scrofula, and many cutaneous eruptions.' 'An infusion of the bark administered internally and applied externally is reputed an excellent treatment for rhus poisoning.' Eclectic Mate