
This article is part of Willderness Way VOLUME
5, ISSUE 3. You may view more articles here or order this
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1) Sassafras tea,
root, and leaves.
2) 4 foot sassafras
sapling with exposed root.
3) Sassafras root
and leaves. |

Sassafras' medicinal value was first
introduced to the Europeans in the mid-1950's. Around this time, a naive
group of French Huguenots attempted to colonize a very small section, of
what is now, northeastern Florida. These Frenchmen failed miserably. They
failed because they did not grow any food! They relied on the indigenous
people for almost everything. Needless to say, these Frenchmen got to know
the habits of their native saviors very well. And, there were two such
habits that the French colonists thought were worthy of note. One was the
smoking of tobacco and the other was the consumption of sassafras. Indian tobacco was smoked for various reasons, but the main
reason the starving Frenchmen took to it was that it has the ability to
ward off hunger. And as for sassafras, the first Floridians had multiple
uses for the tree. The wood was used for bows and in hand drill friction
fires. The leaves were utilized as a food and a spice, but it was the
sassafras roots that got the attention of the Frenchmen. The root bark was
boiled into a brew that prevented illness. The French Huguenots stated
that whoever drank of it never got sick. But, what is most impressive is
that it was used to cure individuals whose sickness was caused by drinking
polluted water. This is extremely important in any survival setting
where pure drinking water is absent. Even water that is too alkaline can
cause gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea,
resulting in dehydration, caused by bad drinking water was and is the most
efficient killer in the world. The Frenchmen passed the native peoples
medicinal knowledge of sassafras on to the more successful "colonizing"
Spanish, who spread the "word" to the rest of the world. Sassafras then,
enjoyed a long period as the "wonder tonic", but today the herb has fallen
into disuse. Mainly because, in the twentieth century most herbs have been
negatively labeled by modern medicine. It is interesting that the
institution that once downplayed the usefulness of herbs has shown how
effective they can be through their own tests.
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. My personal use of sassafras has convinced me
that this herb is the "real deal". I have tried various other herbs that
are no doubt healthful, like Yellow Root, but none have kept me as healthy
as sassafras. For the past four years, I have ritually consumed a gallon
and a half of sassafras tea in the springtime, and then again at the very
end of the summer. During this four-year period, I have not been sick. I
do not even remember what a runny nose or sore throat feels like. And, . .
. no, I do not live on an island. My wife, child, co-workers, and others
that I have daily contact with have all had the flu and colds. I can only
hope that these near and dear people read this article and are finally
encouraged to at least try this great tasting, body strengthening
herb. 
To make sassafras tea, take two whole clean fresh roots from
two, four to five foot, sassafras saplings. (Do not worry about destroying
your sassafras stand by this root harvesting, because for every one
sapling you pull up, two will grow back in its place.) Bring these two
roots to a boil in almost two gallons of water. Let the roots boil for
only ten minutes. Then, cover the pot and let it stand for four hours.
After the four hour "sit", the delicious, healthful beverage is ready to
drink.
References: Common and Uncommon Uses of Herbs for Healthful
Living, by Richard Lucas Today's Herbal Health, by Louise
Tenny Stalking The Wild Asparagus, by Euell
Gibbons |