Sassafras – Blood Purifier Or Carcinogen?

Every Easter, my mother would make a pot of sassafras tea to drink with Easter dinner. For the most part, that was the only time we had this tea. My parents and grandsparents referred to it as a "blood purifier" or tonic. I am often asked about blood purifiers and tonic herbs. People want to know exactly what is meant by the terms, and whether or not they are effective. The answer requires a brief trip into history.

Before the advent of modern medicine, many people had little idea of ​​how the body worked. They believed the body was governed by four humors, and when those were out of balance, you became ill. These humors were basic bodily fluids; black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. Tonics were made to balance the humors for optimum wellness. While we do not hear about bile purifiers or phlegm purifiers now, the term blood purifier has stuck around. That's one aspect of why this term is still used.

The second is probably more important. Until it became possible to import fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world, people had to rely on what they stored for the winter. People would "put up" fruits, vegetables, herbs and a variety of meats in preparation for the winter, and they ate well.

When Spring would finally arrive, however, everyone was starved for fresh foods. Also, over the winter, some foods would run out and leave an imbalance in vitamins and minerals. "Blood purifiers" and tonics were given in late winter and early Spring to counteract that problem. In our area, sassafras was one of those chosen, and certainly the best tasting of the bunch.

Unfortunately, sassafras is both a hepatoxin (poisons the liver) and a carcinogen. Increased rates of esophageal cancer are reported in areas where people drink a great deal of sassafras tea. One reason is safrole, the main constituent of the tree. Even when that is removed an increased number of tumors show up in test animals. Whether it purifies the blood or not, drinking sassafras tea has stopped here. It's too bad; it does taste good.