Although herbal supplements are "natural," this does not mean that they are completely safe. Although bloodroot can be safely used in some cases, there are some side effects associated with taking bloodroot, particularly an increased risk of developing skin lesions in the mouth. Talk to your doctor before taking bloodroot.
What Is Bloodroot?
Bloodroot is a wildflower that grows in the woodlands of the eastern portions of the United States and Canada, Drugs.com notes. The roots and rhizomes, which are a sort of underground stem, are harvested for medicinal use. When the rhizome is cut, it oozes a bright red liquid, which is what gives bloodroot its name. Bloodroot and its derivatives are often used as an antiseptic or antibacterial agent.
When Used as Mouthwash
Bloodroot is often used in dental preparations because of the presence of the compound sanguinarine, which can help keep bacteria in the mouth from growing. However, use of toothpastes and other products with sanguinarine appear to increase your risk of developing leukoplakia, which causes white patches to appear on the mouth, Drugs.com notes. Leukoplakia is not considered to be cancer, but it is a precancerous condition, which means it often progresses into cancer.
Topical Applications
Because bloodroot has some antibacterial properties, it can also be applied to skin. According to the University of Michigan Hospital, some people also apply ointments such as "black salve" to the skin to prevent skin and other forms of cancer. There is no evidence that bloodroot can prevent cancer, and bloodroot-containing products can cause severe pain, burns and damage to healthy skin tissue.
Oral
In small doses, bloodroot may be nontoxic. However, relatively small doses of bloodroot products, such as approximately 20 drops of tincture or 1 g of solid bloodroot, can cause nausea and vomiting. Bloodroot may also cause tunnel vision and foot pain, even when taken in lower doses, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reports. Its safety in pregnant women, young children and people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established, so be careful when taking bloodroot and talk to your doctor before using this supplement.
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