Would like herb people's opinions on this recipe...

I just ordered all of the herbs for this...except spruce & sassafras oil. I ordered sassafras root & I'm thinking I can just go gather some pine needles...for the spruce? Anyway, this is an old-time root beer recipe...I was wondering about the medicinal benefits, esp. the synergystic effects of this combination of herbs...& I plan on using molasses in the brew rather than the sugar...also, what kind of yeast should I use...? :)

ROOT BEER

1/2 oz hops
1/2 oz burdock
1/2 oz yellow dock
1/2 oz sarsaparilla
1/2 oz dandelion
1/2 oz spikenard roots
oils of spruce and sassafras
2 or 3 tbsp. of yeast
2/3 pint molasses or 1/2 pint White Sugar

For each gallon of water to be used, take hops, burdock, yellow dock, sarsaparilla, dandelion, and spikenard roots, bruised, of each 1/2 oz; boil about 20 minutes, and strain while hot, add 8 to 10 drops of oils of spruce and sassafras mixed in equal proportions, when cool enough not to scald your hand, put in 2 or 3 tbsp. of yeast; molasses 2/3 of a pint, or white Sugar 1/2 pound gives it about the right sweetness.
Keep these proportions for as many gallons as you wish to make. You can use more or less of the roots to suit your taste after trying it; it is best to get the dry roots, or dig them and let them get dry, and of course you can add any other root known to possess medicinal properties desired in the beer. After all is mixed, let it stand in a jar with a cloth thrown over it, to work about 2 hours, then bottle and set in a cool place. This is a nice way to take alternatives, without taking medicine. And families ought to make it every Spring, and drank freely of it for several weeks, and thereby save, perhaps, several dollars in doctors' bills.

Dr. Chase, 1869

SEVERAL dollars in doctor's bills....hehehe... :)


recipe from http://www.cooks.com
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