About Smilax glabra Roxb.
Smilax glabra Roxb., commonly called sarsaparilla, is a plant species belonging to the genus Smilax. It is native to China, the Himalayas, and Indochina. It is a well-known traditional medicinal plant in Chinese herbology, where it goes by the Chinese name tufuling (ๅ่ฏ่) and the common name chinaroot (alternatively written as china-root or china root); this shared common name also applies to the related species Smilax china. Chinaroot is a key ingredient in guilinggao, a traditional Chinese medicinal dessert, because it has the ability to set certain types of jelly. The species is cultivated in Southern China. For traditional Chinese medicine use, its rhizome can be collected and dried at any time of year. The dried root is mixed with water and taken orally. In traditional Chinese medicine, the root of Smilax glabra is used to treat dysentery, joint pain, and colds. It is also believed to treat syphilis, and to restore bodily balance by removing dampness and toxicity when treating yin-related diseases.
