Evidence supporting the use of: Sarsaparilla
For the health condition: Perspiration (deficient)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) has a long-standing history in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western herbalism. In these traditions, sarsaparilla has been used to promote sweating (diaphoresis) and was sometimes employed to help "open the pores" and treat conditions believed to involve "deficient perspiration" or difficulty sweating, often in the context of detoxification therapies. Historical texts and herbals from the 18th and 19th centuries document its use as a remedy for skin conditions and as a general "blood purifier," with the promotion of perspiration considered a mechanism for eliminating toxins.

However, direct scientific evidence supporting sarsaparilla’s effect specifically on deficient perspiration is lacking. Most modern research on sarsaparilla focuses on its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and potential hormone-modulating properties, rather than its effects on sweat glands or thermoregulation. The rating of 2 reflects that, while traditional use is well-established, there is little to no clinical or pharmacological data validating its efficacy for this particular indication. The continued reference to sarsaparilla as a diaphoretic in some herbal texts is primarily based on historical precedent rather than modern research findings.

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Other ingredients used for Perspiration (deficient)

ginger
schizonepeta
sarsaparilla