Sassafras
| Sassafras | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Molecule | C10H10O2 |
| Compound | Safrole |
| Era | Ancient |
| Origin | North America |
| Archetype | Milady |
| Ancestor | Native American |
| Swag Score | 3 |
| Date Added | 2025-01-12 |
[view source]Effects & Properties
Effects: Stimulant, anti-inflammatory, metabolite, relaxation.
Natural Occurrence: Traditionally, sassafras root bark or leaves were used in Native American and early American medicine for fever, colds, and rheumatism, as well as a flavoring agent. Found in the root bark, leaves, and wood of this deciduous tree native to eastern North America. Appearance: Plants with green lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and brownish root bark. Dried root bark appears as reddish-brown to dark brown
[view source]History
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) was used extensively by Native American peoples for medicinal teas, poultices, and as a food flavoring long before European contact. Spanish explorers brought sassafras back to Europe in the 16th century, where it was marketed as a cure-all and became one of the first major exports from the New World. Sassafras root bark contains safrole, which was identified in the 20th century as a precursor chemical for synthesizing MDA and MDMA, leading to its regulation under the DEA's List I chemicals in the 1990s, linking this ancient medicinal plant directly to modern rave pharmacology.
[view source]Connections
Archetype: Milady
Ancestor: Native American
Tarot Card: Three of Cups
PubChem: Safrole