Bloodroot is a perennial flowering plant that is native to eastern North America. It is sold for external use as an ointment, and is used as an ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpastes. It is also sold for internal use as a supplement in dried, tincture, extract and powder forms for a variety of health-promoting purposes.
Mechanism of Action
According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, blood root has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-plaque, cathartic and diuretic properties. The main active ingredient is thought to be a nitrogen-containing substance called sanguinarine. Sanguinarine is antimicrobial, meaning it helps prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms in your body such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
Benefits Associated with Sanguinarine
Sanguinarine helps reduce levels of histamine in your body, which is the substance that is responsible for many allergy symptoms. Sanguinarine has expectorant properties, helping your body release excess mucus. This makes bloodroot potentially useful for the treatment of numerous upper-respiratory tract disorders. In fact, "Nursing Herbal Remedies Handbook" states that bloodroot is used to treat bronchitis, asthma, croup, laryngitis and congestion. The sanguinarine found in bloodroot also helps keep the blood thin and not sticky, and thereby helps prevent blood clots that might otherwise lead to a heart attack. The efficacy of bloodroot for these purposes has not yet been substantiated by scientific evidence, however.
Anti-Cancer
Sanguinarine is anti-aniogenic, meaning it prevents the growth of new blood vessels. Tumors require blood vessels to provide them nourishment, and as such, bloodroot may help destroy tumor cells. Sanguinarine is also anti-microtubule, which means it is a substance that stops cell growth and helps prevent cancer cell proliferation. MSKCC warns, however, that the usefulness of bloodroot for the prevention and treatment of cancer has only been proven on animals and no human studies have confirmed the effectiveness of bloodroot as an anti-cancer agent.
List of Additional Purported Uses
Bloodroot is used to treat infections, inflammation, chronic cough, warts, nasal polyps, rheumatism, fever, fungal infections and migraines. It is also used as a general health tonic and laxative. It relieves congestion and enhances digestion. Due to its anti-plaque properties, it is added to tooth cleaning products and used to block plaque from settling on tooth enamel. Bloodroot is also used to fight bad breath due to its antibacterial properties.
Precautions
Bloodroot taken orally may cause unwanted side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, burning gums and headaches. Topical use of bloodroot for skin cancer can lead to severe adverse reactions including disfigurement. Bloodroot should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by people with glaucoma. Bloodroot may also interactive negatively with certain medications such as anticoagulant drugs. It is important that you consult your healthcare practitioner before using bloodroot.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bloodroot
- "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook;" Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2005
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