Editing Sassafras (section)

===Traditional medicine===
{{missing information|scientific evidence for or against effectiveness|date=July 2023}}
Numerous [[Indigenous peoples in the United States|Native American]] tribes used the leaves of sassafras to treat wounds by rubbing the leaves directly into a wound and used different parts of the plant for many medicinal purposes such as treating acne, urinary disorders, and sicknesses that increased body temperature, such as high fevers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Duke |first=James |date=December 15, 2000 |title=The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook: Your Comprehensive Reference to the Best Herbs for Healing |publisher=Rodale Books |page=195 |isbn=978-1-57954-184-2 }}</ref> East Asian types of sassafras such as ''S.&nbsp;tzumu'' (chu mu) and ''S.&nbsp;randaiense'' (chu shu) are used in Chinese medicine to treat [[rheumatism]] and [[Trauma (medicine)|trauma]].<ref>[[b:Traditional Chinese Medicine/From Sabal Peregrina To Syzygium Samarangense]]</ref> Some modern researchers conclude that the oil, roots and bark of sassafras have [[analgesic]] and [[antiseptic]] properties. Different parts of the sassafras plant (including the leaves and stems, the bark, and the roots) have been used to treat [[scurvy]], skin sores, kidney problems, toothaches, [[rheumatism]], swelling, [[menstruation|menstrual]] disorders, [[sexually transmitted diseases]], [[bronchitis]], [[hypertension]], and [[dysentery]]. It is also used as a [[fungicide]], [[dentifrice]], [[rubefacient]], [[diaphoretic]], [[perfume]], [[carminative]] and [[sudorific]].<ref name="Leptuck">Tiffany Leptuck, "Medical Attributes of 'Sassafras albidum' – Sassafras"], Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D., Wilkes-Barre University, 2003</ref> Before the twentieth century, Sassafras enjoyed a great reputation in the medical literature, but became valued for its power to improve the flavor of other medicines.<ref name=Keeler>Keeler, H. L. (1900). ''Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them''. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.</ref>

Sassafras root was an early export from North America, as early as 1609.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lyle|first=Katie Letcher|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/560560606|title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them|publisher=[[FalconGuides]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59921-887-8|edition=2nd|location=Guilford, CN|pages=155|oclc=560560606|orig-year=2004}}</ref>

Sassafras wood and oil were both used in dentistry. Early toothbrushes were crafted from sassafras twigs or wood because of its aromatic properties.<ref name=Small2013 /> Sassafras was also used as an early dental anesthetic and disinfectant.<ref name="Barceloux">{{cite book |last=Barceloux |first=Donald |date=March 7, 2012 |title=Medical Toxicology of Natural Substances: Foods, Fungi, Medicinal Herbs, Plants, and Venomous Animals |publisher=Wiley |asin=B007KGA15Q }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Dental Protective Association of the United States |date=June 7, 2010 |title=Dental Digest |volume=6 |publisher=Nabu Press |page=546 |isbn=978-1-149-86231-5 }}</ref>