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Sassafras
(Sassafras albidum)
cinnamon wood, ague tree
 Description:
It is a deciduous tree. The stem grows from 10-125 feet
tall and is covered with a rough, grayish bark. Leaves
are alternate, downy on the lower side, and variable from
ovate to elliptic, entire or 3-lobed. The small, yellowish-green
flowers grow in racemes, blooming before the leaves appear.
The fruit is a pea-sized, yellowish-green drupe.
Medicinal,
Toxic: It is a anodyne, antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic,and
stimulant. The root bark tea was a famous spring blood
tonic and blood purifier, used for stomachaches, arthritis,
high blood pressure, kidney ailments, colds, fevers, and
skin problems. A wash or poultice from the twig pith was
used for eye problems. The FDA has banned it. Safrole,
found in the oil, is reported to be carcinogenic.
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