Jamaican Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax ornata)

sarsaparilla goes by the botanical name of Smilax. There are several different species that can mostly be used interchangeably. The most common is Smilax ornata (formerly S. regelii).
This type of sarsaparilla is native to Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. In fact, S. ornata often goes by the common name of 'Jamaican sarsaparilla.'
Sarsaparilla plants are climbing, woody vines that belong to the lily family. They produce glossy leaves and red berries, but it's the roots that are harvested for medicinal use. sarsaparilla has long been considered a nourishing herb because of its high content of iron.It's used to help restore the adrenals and to address other issues that are associated with depletion in the body, including a lack of libido. It could be that this nourishing/restoring action is what supports proper hormone balance. researchers did discover decades ago that there are benefits of sarsaparilla for relieving psoriasis. One of the unique benefits of sarsaparilla is that it acts as a 'synergist' to enhance the effects of other herbs.  to put it more technically, it increases the bioavailability of other herbs so your body can get more out of them. Sarsaparilla also contains compounds, called saponins, that bind to a specific group of toxins known as endotoxins and carry them out of the body. Endotoxins are chemicals present in bacterial cells that contribute to many types of diseases when released into the bloodstream.