Botanical Name - Sassafras albidium Other Names - Ague Tree, Saxifrax Tree, White Sassafras, Sassafac, Cinnamon Wood, Smelling Stick, Saloop, Gumbo File, Silky, Saxifrax Origin - USA Flavor Profile - Sassafras is highly aromatic with an earthy flavor that has notes of anise and lemon. There are also notes of eucalyptus and root beer. Cuinary Usages - The roots are frequently dug up, dried, and boiled to make sassafras tea. The twigs and leaves are both edible, and can be eaten raw or added to soups for flavor. Sassafras root bark is traditionally used in tea blends. Aromatic Usages - Infuse in oil or alcohol for use in perfumery and soaps (see Precautions). Household Usages - Topical solutions made from sassafras root bark are reputed to naturally deter insects, including mosquitoes Decorative Usages - Use in botanical displays and in crafts. Sassafras is a deciduous tree in the laurel family that is native to North America. Native Americans made extracts from the bark and root bark, the use of which they later introduced to European settlers. For a long time, the essential oil and root extracts of sassafras were used to flavor candy and root beer and to scent soaps and perfumes. Since the ban of safrole in the US in 1960, these items are treated to either black birch or wintergreen extracts or a laboratory-made safrole-free sassafras extract. Please note that using moderate amounts of sassafras root bark that contains a small amount of safrole does not equate to the volume injected into the stomachs of laboratory rats to produce toxic effects. That said, exercising commonsense regarding the use of this herb is advised. Precautions - Be advised that our sassafras root bark contains safrole, a naturally occurring plant compound classified by the FDA as a potential carcinogen based on early studies on rats. As such, it is banned as a flavoring in the US and Canada. It is also banned as an ingredient in the commercial production of soaps and perfumes by the International Fragrance Association. Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. Disclaimer - While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our Website. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product. For additional information about a product, please contact the manufacturer. Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. * Due to the nature of natural ingredients, physical attributes may differ from lot to lot (color, taste, etc). Please consult with a representative for more information on current lot. Stone Creek Health Essentials will not accept returns on ingredients that are more than 30 days old or that have been unsealed. Product images are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product due to differences in monitors, product batch/lot and etc. Please contact a Stone Creek Health Essentials representative with any questions. We're here to help.
