Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

Sassafras

(1/8) > >>

Beleg813:
So, I was reading some information about "natural" mosquito-repellants. I noticed a certain trend, but I saw several mentions of "Sassafras" and it being one of those passed-down-from old Native American herbal remedies, etc. I found this exceptionally interesting and kept reading and found out this individual would drink sassafras root-tea several days prior to going out in the woods. According to this individual he not only avoided mosquitoes, but ticks, and every other creature of the sort. Didn't touch him. Now, he gave a few friends (and told them not to tell anyone as a means to test this theory) and the one's that took the tea days prior came back with no bug bites and the others were covered.

Now, I also find out that the original Sassafras root was removed from root beer back in the 60's because of the substance called Saphrole, which not only lead to significant findings of it leading to cancer (if taken in large amounts over an extended period of time) by the FDA. Now, it's illegal to consume Sassafras roots....and Saphrole, I've found out is one of the ingredients in ecstasy...that drug.

Does anyone know if rubbing sassafras could act as much of a mosquito-bug repellant if you apply it directly to your skin? Or, must it be consumed. I have a pound or two of the root (just love the way it smells)..but I'm scared to drink the tea because well...it's illegal to consume, and because if taken in large quantities may lead to cancer.

Thoughts?

Hillbilly:
I've never heard that sassafrass was illegal to consume, not doubting you, but I don't see why or how it would be enforcable. I've drunk sassafrass tea off and on all my life, and so did most of the older people around here. As far as the carcinogenic properties, I read somewhere that you would have to drink ten gallons a day for 50 years or something ridiculous like that to get the amount of safrole that the experiments were using on the rats. The air you breath nowadays is probably more carcinogenic than that. I would be quite certain that sassafrass bark is considerably less carcinogenic than all the commercial chemical insect repellents that everybody douses themselves in. Don't think I'd worry at all about drinking sassafrass tea. Elderberry leaves rubbed on the skin will act as an insect repellent, I've used them many times with good results.

Beleg813:
Thanks for the response Hillbilly. I read that the FDA pulled the sassafras "containing saphrole" out from the main ingredient in root beer. They also made it illegal to consume the root / bark. Now, I agree whole-heartedly that the concentration of harmful carconogenic properties is ...considerably less than second-hand smoke or a thousand other things in our current environment. And, I am quite sure I remember my mom telling me she used to chew on the root for something with flavor when they'd run about in the woods. Thanks for the elderberry tip...I've got some dried elderberry right now that I could make into a nice cream or something hehe fun experimenting!

Beleg813:
I talked to a few co-workers and loads of relatives about Sassafras. 75% of the people I talked to has heard of the root, has drank sassafras tea, or knew someone that had.

I'm guessing with a mortle / pestle one could crush up some elderberries and perhaps after cutting through a sassafras gather up the shavings and crush up some really fine mosquito deterrant.

I noticed that when I was cutting my sassafras root to put into bags, that the saw dust from them was very juicy, meaty, oily--those kind of properties mixed with elderberry would seem to make a lotion or something.

Something to think about, that's for sure :)

jamie:
i drink sassafras all the time. there are more carcinogens in beer than there is in sassafras and i dont see anybody worried about banning beer. never mind cigarettes. be careful with elder leaves and bark . they are poisonous if ingested. they will also cause dermititis on some people. ive used it like hillbilly said with no problem. peace

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page