About Bloodroot

The root and stem of the bloodroot plant bleeds a reddish orange liquid when it is cut, which is how the plant got its name. The root has been used in traditional medicine. Today the plant is not recommended for internal use because of the dangers. Bloodroot also has many dangers when used externally.

Controversy

Bloodroot was one of the herbs targeted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when it sent warning letters to companies that tried to sell the drug as an unapproved cancer treatment, according to an article in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute."
Bloodroot is often promoted as a treatment for skin and other types of cancer. It is the main ingredient in black salves. However, the salve has never been tested in clinical studies, according to the University of Michigan. These salves burn through tissue and leave a crater in the skin. They have also been known to cause disfigurement or severe scarring, according to Compendicum Botanicum.

Active Ingredients

The root of the bloodroot plant contains many alkaloids, of which sanguinarine is the most abundant. Sanguinarine can stimulate respiration and increase blood pressure, according to Steven Foster and Rebecca Johnson, authors of "National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine." It is also used as an ingredient in toothpastes and mouthwashes because of its antibacterial activity. However, the oral products have been shown to cause DNA mutations after prolonged use, according to Foster and Johnson.

Description

The bloodroot plant also has been known under the names of red root, coon root, paucon, snakebite, sweet slumber, tetterwood, red pucoon and Indian paint. The plant grows in the rich woods of the United States, Canada and India. The white, waxy flowers of bloodroot plants bloom in early spring and are one of the first flowers to appear. Each plant produces one single leaf and grows to a height of six inches. The roots can grow up to four inches in length. The plant is protected as an endangered wildflower in the United States.

Use

In the 1800s, bloodroot was used as an ointment on breast tumors, according to Thomas Broken Bear Squier, author of "Herbal Folk Medicine." The American Indians used the root to make a dye for their clothes and to use as body paint. Traditionally, it also has been used for cough halitosis and gingivitis; however, this has not been supported by scientific research, according to the University of Michigan. Other traditional uses have included heart disease, lowering blood pressure, extracting ringworms, dysentery and for fungoid growths. According to the University of Michigan, bloodroot sometimes has been added to cough-relieving formulas, as well.

Side Effects

An overdose of using bloodroot internally can cause intense thirst, vomiting, stomach burning, faintness, vertigo and the eyesight to dim. The use of bloodroot in dental products can cause leukoplakia, or white spots that may be precancerous, according to the University of Michigan.

Bloodroot has been used internally only in small doses in traditional medicine. However, even long-term use of the plant in small doses can cause the same side effects as an overdose, according to the University of Michigan.
The plant also has been called unsafe by the FDA because of its effects as a depressant on the central nervous system. The root is caustic, especially when dried.