Jamaican Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii), and related sarsaparilla species, have a long history of use in traditional Caribbean and Central American medicine. Historically, sarsaparilla roots were used as a "blood purifier," a vague term common in various folk medicine systems, including Jamaican herbalism, to describe remedies thought to cleanse the blood of toxins or infections. In the context of "blood poisoning"—typically referring to sepsis or systemic infection—traditional herbalists would sometimes recommend sarsaparilla, believing it could help eliminate impurities or support the body's response to illness.

The rationale for this use is largely based on anecdotal reports and the general reputation of sarsaparilla as a detoxifying agent. There is some historical documentation of sarsaparilla being used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for the treatment of syphilis and other infectious diseases, but these practices predate modern understanding of bacterial infections and sepsis. Modern scientific studies investigating sarsaparilla's effects focus primarily on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties in vitro, but there is no clinical evidence supporting its use in treating blood poisoning (sepsis) in humans. Therefore, while the use is justified by tradition, the scientific evidence is minimal to nonexistent, and sarsaparilla should not be considered an effective or safe treatment for blood poisoning.