Scientific Name: Sassafras
Other Names: Ague Tree, Cinnamon Wood, Saloop, Sassafras albidum, Sassafras officinale, Saxifras

Who is this for?

Uses

NOTE: Taking sassafras in any oral form is discouraged strongly. The sale of products that contain significant amounts of safrole (a major chemical in sassafras) is prohibited by law in both Canada and the United States.

In 1960, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of sassafras oil and safrole in foods and drugs based on the animal studies and human case reports. Several years later, the sale of sassafras oil, roots, or tea was prohibited by law. Subsequently, both Canada and the United States have passed laws against the sale of any consumable products (such as beverages, foods, cosmetics, and health products) that contain more than specific small amounts of safrole.

In 1960, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of sassafras oil and safrole in foods and drugs based on the animal studies and human case reports. Several years later, the sale of sassafras oil, roots, or tea was prohibited by law. Subsequently, both Canada and the United States have passed laws against the sale of any consumable products (beverages, foods, cosmetics, health products such as toothpaste, and others) that contain more than specific small amounts of safrole.

Topically, sassafras oil may relieve the pain and inflammation of insect bites. It may have some anti-infective properties, which might also help to prevent infection of bites and minor skin rashes. It has also been used to kill lice. Other topical products are more effective than sassafras oil; however, and the risk of accidental ingestion makes sassafras oil unsafe to keep—especially in areas where small children or pets may be attracted by its pleasant smell.

Precautions

Sassafras is not considered safe to take by mouth. Even when sassafras oil is only applied to the skin, some chemicals from it may be absorbed into the body.

While it is not recommended for oral use by any individuals, members of certain groups should be particularly careful to avoid using sassafras topically, as well:

• Pregnant women should not take or use sassafras due to the risk of miscarriage.
• In animal experiments, safrole was found in the breast milk of new mothers. In at least one laboratory study, newly born, breast-feeding mice developed cancers when their mothers were given safrole. A similar effect in humans has not been proven, but it is considered to be probable. Women who are breast-feeding should not use any sassafras products.
• Children are more susceptible than adults to the toxic effects of sassafras oil. In one report, swallowing just a few drops of sassafras oil that contained safrole caused the death of a small child. In addition, safrole may be absorbed through the skin when applied topically—especially when applied to raw areas of the skin. It is also believed that the elderly may be more sensitive to volatile oils such as sassafras oil, although no reports of such sensitivity have been published. Therefore, the use of any type of sassafras should be avoided by individuals under the age of 18 and over the age of 55.
• Because safrole is known to cause liver damage, sassafras should not be taken by mouth and sassafras oil should not be applied by individuals with known or suspected liver diseases or by individuals who drink large amounts of alcohol.

What side effects should I watch for?

Major Side Effects

Laboratory animals that were given oral doses of sassafras tea or sassafras oil that contained safrole developed permanent liver damage or various types of cancer. In humans, liver damage can take years to develop and it may not have obvious signs. Your . A doctor may have to test an individual’s liver function to diagnose it. A doctor should be notified immediately by individuals who take or use any sassafras product and who experience:

• Excessive fatigue
• Extreme widespread itchiness
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Pain or swelling in the upper right part of the abdomen
• Yellowing of the skin or the white parts of the eyes

Sassafras oil ingestion by adults has been reported to cause:

• Dangerously fast heartbeat
• Hallucinations that may persist for several days or weeks
• Miscarriage
• Paralysis
• Death

Less Severe Side Effects

Adults who took sassafras oil by mouth have experienced:

• Drowsiness
• Excessive sweating
• Extreme confusion
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Vomiting

What interactions should I watch for?

Prescription Drugs

If sassafras oil is used at the same time as prescription drugs that promote sleepiness, the effects of the drug may be exaggerated, resulting in sedation or mental impairment. Prescription drugs that can cause sleepiness include:

• Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and valproic acid
• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and diazepam
• Drugs for insomnia such as Lunesta, Rozerem, Sonata, and zolpidem
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, doxepin and nortriptyline

Non-prescription Drugs

The sleep-producing effects of over-the-counter products containing diphenhydramine or doxylamine can be enhanced by applying sassafras oil at the same time. Diphenhydramine and doxylamine are contained in many non-prescription sleeping pills as well as in some cough and cold products; therefore caution should be used when taking these medications while using sassafras oil because excessive drowsiness may result.

Herbal Products

Using sassafras oil may cause excessive sedation if it is applied while other sedating herbs are being taken. Sedating herbs include:

• Catnip
• Hops
• Kava
• St. John's Wort
• Valerian

Foods

No interactions between sassafras oil and foods have been reported, but drinking alcohol at the same time as using sassafras oil may result in increased drowsiness.

Common cooking spices such as basil, cinnamon, and nutmeg all contain a little safrole. No adverse effects are thought to be associated with these herbs in the quantities used for flavoring foods, though. . Camphor, an ingredient in some skin products, also contains safrole; but again the quantity is so small that camphor is relatively safe to use. If large amounts of camphor or seasonings that contain safrole are used at the same time that sassafras oil is being applied, however, both the amount of safrole absorbed by the body and the possibility of side effects may increase.

Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how sassafras oil interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.

Should I take it?

One species of sassafras tree is native to the plains of North America, while others are thought to have originated in eastern parts of Asia. Sassafras trees generally stay relatively small in cool areas, but they can grow quite large (75 feet or more in height) in warmer regions. Usually, they are easily identified by their unique, mitten-shaped leaves that turn bright red or orange in the fall. The trees produce small white or yellow flowers in the spring followed by grape-sized blue fruits in the autumn. Although they produce seeds, sassafras trees multiply mainly by sending out runners. Runners are woody extensions of tree roots that spread along or just under the ground and often produce shoots for new trees.

The part of sassafras used for medicine was the “root bark,” a thick covering that surrounds the roots and runners of sassafras trees. Root bark turned from white to a characteristic red-brown color after being dug up and dried. Pieces of the dried bark were brewed into tea by Native North Americans who used it to treat many conditions. The “spring tonic” routinely taken by native people and colonists usually included sassafras as one of the main components. Later, root beer and candies were flavored with sassafras, which was also used in dental products, perfumes, and soaps until the 1950s. Sassafras leaves do not contain the harmful chemicals found in its roots. For many decades, sassafras leaves have been ground into a powder known as filé that is the traditional flavoring and thickening agent for gumbo.

Dosage and Administration

Sassafras should not be taken by mouth. Estimates are that one cup of sassafras tea may contain four or more times the amount of safrole that has been found to be harmful to humans if ingested on a regular basis.

Just a few drops of sassafras oil by mouth resulted in the death of a small child, as reported in the medical literature. Cases of adult fatalities have also been reported from ingesting sassafras oil. In addition, unknown amounts of safrole potentially may be absorbed through the skin after sassafras oil is applied.

The oral use of sassafras is discouraged strongly. Individuals who decide to use a topical sassafras product should purchase a commercially prepared safrole-free product. Even when safrole has been removed, however, oral use of sassafras may still have a risk of serious adverse side effects both immediately and long-term. All sassafras products should be kept away from places that children and pets might be able to reach them.

Summary

Taking any form of sassafras by mouth is strongly discouraged because it contains safrole, a chemical that has been proved to cause liver damage and cancer in laboratory animals.

The oil of sassafras may be applied to insect bites and soft tissue injuries, but its use is discouraged because of the danger that it may be ingested accidentally. Due to its pleasant smell and taste sassafras oil may be mistaken for a beverage by children. In addition, unknown amounts of harmful chemicals from sassafras oil may be absorbed through broken skin.

Risks

Oral sassafras contains a chemical known as safrole, which has been associated with cancer and/or permanent liver damage in laboratory mice. Case reports also link taking sassafras with nerve damage and miscarriage in humans. Children and the elderly are thought to be more likely to experience side effects from sassafras.

Side Effects

Deaths have been reported from taking sassafras or sassafras oil by mouth. Potentially life-threatening side effects such as rapid heartbeat and paralysis are also reported to have occurred. Ingesting or applying safrole-containing products may produce drowsiness, excessive sweating, high blood pressure, and vomiting.

Interactions

Because it may be absorbed through the skin, topical sassafras oil may increase drowsiness associated with certain prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, herbal products, and alcoholic beverages.

Last Revised July 18, 2007

References

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Atkinson H. The tree with red mittens. Missouri Conservationist. 2000;61(2). Available at: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/conmag/2000/02/5.htm. Accessed July 24, 2003.

Carlson M, Thompson RD. Liquid chromatographic determination of safrole in sassafras-derived herbal products. Journal of AOAC International. 1997;80(5):1023-1028.

Chang HC, Cheng HH, Huang CJ, et al. Safrole-induced Ca2+ mobilization and cytotoxicity in human PC3 prostate cancer cells. J Recept Signal Transduct Res. 2006;26(3):199-212.

Chen WC, Cheng HH, Huang CJ, et al. The carcinogen safrole increases intracellular free Ca2+ levels and causes death in MDCK cells. Chinese Journal of Physiology. 2007;50(1):34-40.

Davidson T. Sassafras. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group. 2001. Available at: http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/g2603/0006/2603000644/print.jhtml. Accessed July 24, 2003.

Grande GA, Dannewitz SR. Symptomatic sassafras oil ingestion. [letter] Veterinary and Hum Toxicology. 1987;29(6):447. Haines JD Jr. Sassafras tea and diaphoresis. Postgraduate Medicine. 1991;90(4):75-76.

HealthNotes, Inc. Sassafras. 2002. Available at: http://www.mycustompak.com/healthNotes/Herb/Sassafras.htm Accessed July 24, 2003.

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Jellin JM, Gregory P, Batz F, Hitchens K, et al, eds. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 3rd Edition. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2000.

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Last Revised July 18, 2007

Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.

In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

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