College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax officinalis and spp.)

Strengthens hormones and restores. Moistens as it disperses and detoxifies. Ideal for Vata ama due to weakness.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Strengthens hormones and restores. Moistens as it disperses and detoxifies. Ideal for Vata ama due to weakness.

Metabolic Nature of Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root

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.

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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OILY

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.

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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?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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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.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying

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.

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PACIFIES
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.

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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

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

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Other

Anti Aging

ANTI-AGING

Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-AGING' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root
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)
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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,
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.

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Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

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Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

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

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antipoisonous

ANTIPOISONOUS

An antidote for a poison. Many anti-poisonous herbs draw out a poison and are good for insect bites. Others help burn it up.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPOISONOUS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

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Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

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,
Progesteronic

PROGESTERONIC

Progeserone is the pregnancy hormone. It raises body temperature (Pitta), and suppresses menstruation. It is generally more extroverted.

SEE ALL 'PROGESTERONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Steroidal Saponins

STEROIDAL-SAPONINS

Steroidal saponins closely resemble human hormones such as estrogen and cortisol, and have a hormonal activity in the body.

SEE ALL 'STEROIDAL-SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Triterpene Saponins

TRITERPENE-SAPONINS

Triterpene saponins are generally expectorant and increase absorption. They irritate mucus membranes and are mucolytic. They bind to and reduce cholesterol, and detoxify by binding to bacterial edotoxins.

SEE ALL 'TRITERPENE-SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Antipoisonous, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

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  • Tarragon

    Tarragon has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antipoisonous, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

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  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Immune-stimulant, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Immune-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Estrogenic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Sage

    Sage has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Estrogenic, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Immune-stimulant

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  • Black Pepper

    Black Pepper has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Digestive

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  • Alfalfa Sprouts

    Alfalfa Sprouts has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Estrogenic, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant

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  • Coriander Seed

    Coriander Seed has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Scallions (Raw)

    Scallions (Raw) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cardamom

    Cardamom has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root

  • Echinacea

    Echinacea has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Immune-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Antipoisonous, Diaphoretic, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea

    Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Kushta

    Kushta has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Diuretic, Immune-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Manjistha

    Manjistha has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Blood-tonic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Elecampane

    Elecampane has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Immune-stimulant, Antipoisonous, Diaphoretic, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Immune-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Digestive, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Antipoisonous

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  • Wild Yam

    Wild Yam has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Progesteronic

    LEARN MORE

  • Anantamul

    Anantamul has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mahasudarshan

    Mahasudarshan has these Actions in Common

    Immune-stimulant, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root 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 herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.