A small shrub endemic to North America, bloodroot owes its name to its bright-red tuber, which pulses with a caustic fluid similar in appearance to human blood. When dried or extracted, this sanguine plant may offer a few medicinal benefits. However, modern health care providers rarely recommend bloodroot for its medicinal purposes, since it is associated with a high incidence of severe side effects. Use bloodroot only under the guidance of a qualified health care provider; discontinue use if you develop symptoms of an adverse reaction.
Skin Tags
Renowned naturopath Dr. Andrew Weil recommends bloodroot as a treatment for skin tags and noncancerous moles. Consider applying powdered bloodroot directly to the site of the skin tag and washing the area daily with hydrogen peroxide. Dr. Weil notes that this process will cause intense inflammation of the area, but the mole will disappear with little or no scarring.
Skin Cancer Treatment
Bloodroot was once recommended as a primary treatment for skin cancers. When combined with zinc oxide, bloodroot powder creates a corrosive paste that digests skin tissue. All or most cancerous skin cells will die after an intensive treatment with bloodroot paste. However, Dr. Stephen Barrett warns that this process can also cause painful, disfiguring side-effects. Barrett references several case reports of patients who have lost large amounts of skin, flesh and bone because of caustic bloodroot pastes.
Dental Health
Bloodroot extracts are recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe, effective components of mouthwashes and toothpastes. Compounds in bloodroot help to prevent the formation of plaque, tartar and cavities and may reduce inflammation related to gingivitis. While this use is considered to be evidence-based, it remains controversial among mainstream dentists. Dr. George Gallagher, a professor and dentist at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, argues that more studies are needed before bloodroot can be considered safe for use in dental products.
Internal Use
Twentieth-century herbalist Margaret Grieve recommended oral bloodroot as a treatment for bronchitis, croup, asthma, anxiety, heart disease and stomach ache. However, she noted that oral bloodroot could cause serious side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and other serious side effects. Other medicines--both botanical and conventional--may offer similar benefits with fewer side effects.
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