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Sassafras Leaf Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Dry, astringent, sweet and sour depurative and diaphoretic helpful for thinning fluids and purifying blood. Blood moving like Frankincense (Boswellia) and Ginkgo but warming. Old folk remedy is to blend with sarsaparilla to treat BPH. Avoid if pregnant.

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  • SERVING SIZE: 1/16 tsp
  • FAMILY: Lauraceae
  • SPECIES: Sassafras albidum
  • EAT IN: SUMMER

Is Sassafras Leaf Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Sassafras Leaf' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Metabolic Nature of Sassafras Leaf

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

Other

Subtaste:
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Digestion, Weight Loss
Family:
Lauraceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Sassafras Leaf
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Sassafras Leaf

  • Tarragon

    Tarragon has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Alterative, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Safflower

    Safflower has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Coriander Seed

    Coriander Seed has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Alterative, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Scallions (Raw)

    Scallions (Raw) has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cilantro

    Cilantro has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Spleen-tonic, Blood-thinner, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Daikon Radish

    Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Demulcent, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Demulcent, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Sassafras Leaf

  • Sassafras Root

    Sassafras Root has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Manjistha

    Manjistha has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea

    Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root

    Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cleavers

    Cleavers has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Mahasudarshan

    Mahasudarshan has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Alterative

    LEARN MORE

  • Guggulu

    Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Echinacea

    Echinacea has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diaphoretic, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Elecampane

    Elecampane has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diaphoretic, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

    Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Sassafras Leaf may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Sassafras Leaf. Please see your health care provider for more information.

View other ingredients
for Summer

Sassafras Leaf is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA / KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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