Sarsaparilla Root Extract and VapoFil™

What it is

Sarsaparilla comes from vines in the Smilax family, which climb through the forests of Mexico, Central America and South America. The name comes from Spanish: zarza means bramble and parrilla means little vine. People in the Americas used the roots for a long time before Europeans learned about them. In the 1800s the root became the flavor of a popular soft drink, a cousin of today's root beer.

Where it comes from

Gatherers dig the long roots, dry them and grind them. Makers then turn the powder into an extract so the strength stays the same from batch to batch.

Why it is in VapoFil

VapoFil lists 20 mg of sarsaparilla root extract per serving.* Your VapoFil bottle label shows the serving size and every amount. Nettle, Sarsaparilla and Wild Yam tells more about all three plant extracts.

Worth knowing

• A thorny tropical climbing vine
• The root is the part used
• Once the flavor of an old soft drink
• 20 mg per serving on the label

Easy ways to explore it

• Read Nettle, Sarsaparilla and Wild Yam
• Compare it with wild yam, another vine root
• Open the NIH supplement basics page in the sources below

Keeps company with

Sarsaparilla pairs well with these guides:

Public sources

• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary supplements, what you need to know
• NCCIH: Using dietary supplements wisely

Common questions