| Sassafras belongs to the laurel family, Lauraceae. There
are three species. The familiar sassafras of North America is Sassafras
albidum. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental for its fall foliage. The
other species are natives of Eastern Asia.
Sassafras, is well known here in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Old mountain folk still swear it's Mother Nature's best spring tonic, and in my opinion, the best tasting wild tea I've ever tasted. I was told by an older mountain woman that if you want to build up your blood you should cut the bark off the root pulling the knife towards your body and that if you cut the bark off away from you (downwards) it would be used to thin out your blood. This statement didn't surprise me in the least as I've spoken to quite a few older generation folks here who still plant their gardens by "the signs". Sassafras trees can be found throughout the eastern states in North America along roadways, fencerows, woodland margins, as well as scattered throughout the forests. I have found small sassafras trees growing along old logging roads and clearcut areas in the mountain woods. It can be found growing from Ontario to Michigan, and south to Florida and Texas. The tree can grow anywhere from 10 to 40 feet high and sometimes reaches up to 60 foot and higher, although I've never seen one here that grew much over 30 feet. Oddly, the alternate leaves on a sassafras can have 4 distinct shapes: "three lobed, elliptical, two lobed/right side, and two lobed/left side" The Assateague Naturalist Homepage Excellent Information and Leaf Shapes". The bark is rough, grayish and can be greenish along the stems. It has small light green colored flowers growing in racemens that bloom before the leaves appear in the Spring. The small fruit is about pea-sized, first yellowish green then maturing to blue (drupe). All parts of the sassafras tree are aromatic. The tree can yield "oil of sassafras" (used as a flavoring), bark of roots for tea, and the tender leaves dried and crushed has been added to filet gumbo, stews and soups as a thickener. All parts of the tree are edible and birds will also eat the fruit. The tender young buds and leaves can be eaten raw or added to a salad. Sassafras roots are best dug in the Spring when the sap is still in the roots. In the 1800's sassafras tea was a main ingredient in the original "root beer". The strong tea can be made into jelly. I have read accounts that Ponce De Leon "discovered" sassafras tea about 1512 while in Florida. Native Americans sometimes used it to help bring down a fever. In my younger days my parents would drive up to the mountains to buy apples from vendors along the roadways. It was not uncommon then to see boxes of dried sassafras roots for sale along with their produce. My father was a great lover of sassafras tea and would take me along with him to dig the roots each Spring. Unfortunately, modern medical scientists discovered in the 1960's that the main component in sasafrass oil is "safrole, which is carcinogenic in rats and mice. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has since prohibited the internal use of sassafras containing safrole. Commercial products for internal use (as in tea) are all safrole-free. Properties/Uses: "Anodyne, antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, and stimulant". ("The Herb Book, by John Lust). Sassafras oil has been used as liniment for rheumatism and as an ointment for skin irritations such as poison ivy/oak, boils and acne. A hot infusion of the tea has been used as a "blood purifier" and will promote perspiration and urination. It has been used for gout and arthritis. Modern herbalists claim that sassafras tea is a good liver detoxer and general stimulant. Some even say that it will detox your body from radiation, poisons, and chemical contamination. I, personally, have never used the tea medicinally for anything so make no claims other than my personal experience that after drinking about a quart of it, I felt completely relaxed and sleepy. A gallon of the tea doesn't last very long around my house but I only make it once or twice a year. Bonnie NCNatural's Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) This site has distribution map and beautiful photo of sassafras' fall foilage. The Assateague Naturalist Homepage Excellent Information and Leaf Shapes
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