Sarsaparilla (mixed species, typically from the Smilax genus) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine systems, particularly in Central and South America, for a variety of ailments. Its use in respiratory conditions, including those resembling what is now known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is rooted primarily in folk medicine rather than modern clinical science. Traditional practitioners have used sarsaparilla as a general "blood purifier" and for its purported anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects, sometimes recommending it for coughs, colds, and bronchial complaints. However, these uses are based on historical precedent rather than modern evidence.

In the context of COPD specifically, there are no well-conducted clinical trials or systematic reviews supporting the efficacy of sarsaparilla, either alone or in combination with other herbs. Laboratory studies have identified some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in sarsaparilla extracts, which are theoretically relevant to COPD due to the disease’s inflammatory component. Nonetheless, these findings have not been translated into clinical recommendations. Major scientific and medical references do not list sarsaparilla as a recognized or evidence-based therapy for COPD. Therefore, its use for COPD today is justified mainly by tradition, not by scientific validation.