Mexican sarsaparilla is a climbing vine that naturally occurs throughout South America and Mexico. The plant gets its name from the Spanish word zarzaparrilla, which is constructed from zarza and parrilla and means “shrub” and “little grape vine,” respectively.
The root of the plant has a long history of use as a blood cleanser and tonic. In 16th century Europe, Mexican sarsaparilla root was considered a standard therapy for arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders. It is interesting to note that numerous US Patents that describe the flavonoids in the herb as effective in countering autoimmune and inflammatory conditions have been awarded in recent years.
