Sarsaparilla Root is well known for its use in flavoring drinks, aka root beer!

Folklore has sarsaparilla root being used in the 1490’s as the primary ingredient in the treatment of “the French Disease” or what we now call syphilis. It was commonly used to treat coughs and colds by the Native American peoples, who made a soothing tea using Sarsaparilla roots to calm sore throats and clear stuffy noses. Also, in the early 1800’s era of the “Wild West” it was often sought out by “cowboys” after a night at the local brothel.