Sarsaparilla was traditionally used as a blood purifier and anti-rheumatic by many herbalists before finding favour as an enjoyable drink, and Mawson's Sarsaparilla still contains fluid extracts of many herbs. No medicinal claims are made for Mawson's Sarsaparilla but listed below are the actions of some of the herbs contained in the Cordial.

Sarsaparilla
Smilax aristolochiaefolia
Part Used: Root Bark

Sarsaparilla is a widely applicable alternative. It may be used to aid proper functioning of the body as a whole and in the correction of such diffuse systemic problems as skin and rheumatic conditions. It is particularly useful in scaling skin conditions such as psoriasis, especially where there is much irritation. As part of a wider treatment for chronic rheumatism it should be considered and is especially useful for rheumatoid arthritis. It has been shown that Sarsaparilla contains chemicals with properties that aid testosterone activity in the body.

Ginger
Zingiber officinalis
Part Used: The rhizome

The ginger plant is native to South East Asia, where it is used extensively in cooking. A traditional food to fortify pregnant woman in these countries is chicken soup heavily laced with Ginger. Ginger contains a number of substances, many of which are volatile oils. As a digestive tonic, Ginger improves the production and secretion of bile, aids fat breakdown and lowers blood cholesterol levels. This speeds up the digestive processes, allowing quicker transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening the irritation in the intestines, reducing flatulence and intestinal spasms.

Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Part Used: Dried Root

Liquorice has been used medicinally since at least 500 BC, and still features in official pharmacopoeia as a "drug" for stomach ulcers. G.galbra originates in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and has been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century. In China it is called the "great detoxifier" and is used to drive poisons from the system. The root contains glycyrrhizin, 50 times sweeter than sucrose, which encourages the production of hormones such as hydrocortisone. This helps to explain its anti-inflammatory action and also its role in re-stimulating the adrenal cortex after steroid therapy. The root can help heal gastric ulceration and is also a potent expectrorant.