Wild sarsaparilla

The fruit is edible and tastes like juniper. Native peoples ate it to survive during their travels. At one time, the rhizome was used in making root beer. The dried rhizome is still used to produce a stimulant infusion. The plant also acts as a sudorific (inducing sweating) to cleanse the blood, but it may be. A poultice made by crushing the raw rhizome reduces swelling and is effective against skin disorders.