What Is Chaney Root?
A Jamaican Herbal Favourite Explained

Pieces Of Chaney Root In My Hand | What Is Chaney Root

Just recently, I got a very pleasant surprise.

I had gone to visit my uncle to share condolences after the passing of his wife, and while I was there, he gave me some fresh Jamaican chaney root!

I was delighted.

He told me he got it from up in the hills in a place we call Pinnock Wood. But what made that especially exciting for me is that chaney root, one of the rarest, but also most sought-after herbs in my e-store, was right here! In my own hometown!

That alone made me appreciate it even more.

And just before writing this article, I decided to do something else:
I made myself a fresh cup of chaney root tea. I enjoyed it very much too  -  I sweetened mine with vanilla Lasco!

So if you’ve been asking, exactly what is chaney root, let me explain it properly, especially because a lot of people mix it up with sarsaparilla or with roots tonic.

What Is Chaney Root?

Cut Chaney Root | What Is Chaney Root

Chaney root is a traditional Jamaican herb taken from the root or underground woody part of a climbing forest plant in the Smilax family.

Here in Jamaica, chaney root has long been valued as a strengthening herb.
We use it in:

• herbal teas
• roots tonics
• powders
• capsules &
• herbal blends

It is often associated with strength, stamina, vitality and general body building.

You may also see it spelled:

• chainy root
• chainey root
• and sometimes even chany root

They are usually referring to the same herb.

Why Jamaicans Value Chaney Root So Much

A Single Cut From The Chaney Root

If you know anything about Jamaican herbal culture, then you know we don’t look at herbs as something minor.

For many of us, herbs are part of inherited knowledge - passed down from parents, grandparents, bush doctors, herbalists and country people who learned from their lived experience. And  Chaney root is one of those herbs that has built a strong reputation over time.

Traditionally, Jamaicans use it for:

• building up the body
• promoting strength
• helping with stamina
• supporting vitality
• use in roots tonics for men and women and 
• general “back-to-strength” type preparations💪

And while there may not be a whole lot to show from the scientists as yet, I don’t think traditional use should be brushed aside simply because everything hasn’t been heavily studied in modern laboratories. Science can help us understand herbs better, but it should not be used to belittle the value of long-standing herbal practice.

And I'm encouraged to see researchers documenting not just the plants themselves, but the generations of Jamaican knowledge, history and traditions surrounding our roots tonics. That knowledge is part of our heritage and deserves to be preserved. 

What Is the Difference Between Chaney Root and Sarsaparilla?

Jamaican Chaney Root

Jamaican Sarsaparilla

This is where many people get confused; Chaney root is not the same as sarsaparilla, both belong to the Smilax genus, but they are different plants.

Jamaican chaney root has been identified as Smilax canellifolia, although the older scientific name Smilax balbisiana also appears in Jamaican herbal literature. Jamaican sarsaparilla, on the other hand, is generally identified as Smilax ornata, previously called Smilax regelii.

So while they're closely related and are often used together in traditional Jamaican roots tonics, they are not interchangeable herbs. 

So in simple terms:

• Chaney root is one specific traditional Jamaican root herb.
• Sarsaparilla is another herb, also widely used in Jamaican tonics and herbal preparations.
• They may be used together, but they are not identical.

That’s why if you buy chaney root, you should not assume you are automatically getting sarsaparilla. And if you buy sarsaparilla, that doesn’t mean you have chaney root.

What Is the Difference Between Chaney Root and “Roots” Mixes?

Jamaican Chaney Root

Jamaican Roots Man

That's the next big misunderstanding:  A roots mix (or roots tonic) is not one herb.

It is usually a combination of several roots, vines, barks and other herbs boiled together to make a strengthening drink. So as my roots brethren is showing you in the picture above, a Jamaican roots blend is just that, a blend or mix, and may include herbs such as:

• chaney root
• sarsaparilla
• coconut root
• bloody wiss
• duppy gun
• strong back
• medina
• nerve wist
• ramoon
• and others, depending on the person making it

And here's something interesting!

In a study of 38 traditional Jamaican roots tonic preparations, UWI researcher Sylvia Mitchell found that chaney root appeared in every single one, while sarsaparilla was included in approximately 95% of them.

Some of these preparations contained as many as 26 different plants!  Now that should tell you just how important chaney root is to our Jamaican roots tonic tradition.

And it helps explain why people sometimes confuse chaney root, sarsaparilla and the finished roots drink.

So to be clear with you:

• Chaney root = one herb
• Sarsaparilla = another herb
• Roots tonic / roots mix = a multi-herb preparation that may contain both

That distinction is important because many people use the terms loosely.

Chaney Root vs Sarsaparilla vs Roots Mix

I like graphics, so I thought I'd share this with you (and others who might be reader later) to make it even clearer.

What Does Chaney Root Look Like?

One thing I like about the photos I took is that they show chaney root in a very practical way.

The fresh pieces I had were:

• thick and woody
• dark brown on the outside
• lighter golden-brown on the inside
• tough and fibrous when cut

That firm, woody texture is one reason it is usually boiled well rather than lightly steeped like a delicate tea leaf.

Dried and Cut Chaney Root In Jamaica

If you’re new to chaney root, the photos of the whole root and the cut pieces will help you recognise it much more easily.

How I Made My Chaney Root Tea

How I made my Chaney Root Tea In Pot

Since I had fresh chaney root on hand, I decided to make tea before finishing this article.

It was simple.

I put pieces of the chaney root into boiling water and let it cook properly so the water could pull out the goodness from the woodier parts. After that, I strained and sweetened it.

In my case, I used Lasco (a soy based sweeter) to sweeten it, and I thoroughly enjoyed the result.

Sweetened Chaney Root Tea

That fresh cup made the article feel even more personal to me, because I wasn’t writing only from memory or general knowledge - I was literally drinking chaney root tea the same day!

The Finished Product | My Jamaican Chaney Root Tea Today

Yes, I know, a little 'show off' is good!

My basic preparation (for the cut pieces) was this:

1. Wash the chaney root pieces.
2. Put a few pieces into a pot of water.
3. Boil well and allow it to simmer.
4. Strain.
5. Sweeten to taste if desired.
6. Drink warm.

As with many Jamaican herbal teas, there isn’t always one rigid method. Some people boil it stronger, some lighter, and some combine it with other herbs. In fact, for some of us, we repeat the boiling of some roots to get even more out of it.

Will I be doing that with my latest batch of chaney root? 

You bet😁

Is Chaney Root Only Used in Tea?

Oh no!

These days, chaney root is used in several forms.
Besides its traditional use in roots tonics, it can also be prepared as:

• dried pieces for boiling
• powdered herb
• tea bags
• capsules

That is one reason interest in it has remained strong. Not everybody wants to boil a pot of roots, so more convenient forms make it easier for people to use the herb in everyday life.

Is Chaney Root Found Everywhere in Jamaica?

Not exactly.

From what I’ve seen and heard, chaney root is often associated with more remote, hilly or forested areas, which is one reason people value it so much.

That’s why I was so happy when my uncle told me he got it from Pinnock Wood (PinnyCould). There is something special about knowing that one of Jamaica’s best-loved herbs is still being found in country areas like that.

A Word of Balance though: As a herbal enthusiast, I believe strongly in the value of herbs and traditional knowledge. But at the same time, it helps readers when we speak responsibly.

So I would put it this way; yes, chaney root has a very strong traditional reputation and we value it highly here. It also has an established place in roots tonics and herbal use. But I'd suggest, as with any other herbs, that if anyone has a serious medical condition, or who is pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, please be sensible and get proper advice before using it, or any herb, regularly

This is not to diminish herbs at all; it is simply to respect them enough to use them wisely.

That said, I'm heading back downstairs, to have the rest of my chaney root tea!

Regards,
Wellesley

P.S. If you enjoy learning about Jamaican herbs, you may also want to try the chaney root products in my e-store, especially if you prefer a more convenient option like tea bags or capsules rather than boiling the raw root yourself.

P.P.S. I also have chaney root in my 101 medicinal herbs of Jamaica, a free article; check it out here.

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