Bloodroot, native to the eastern portion of North America, is traditionally used to treat skin cancer and many other ailments, from coughs to bone weakness and infections. While its history of use is long, this remedy is far from proven for any purpose. Consult a health care provider before trying any treatment with bloodroot.
Significance
Bloodroot, officially known as Sanguinaria Canadensis, does have tumoricidal properties, according to a 2009 study published in "Phytotherapy Research." The tumoricidal properties may be stronger than that of many herbs commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine such as ginseng, echinacea, milk thistle, chamomile and slippery elm. However, this laboratory study found that its anti-tumor properties are not as strong as those of other herbs like garcinia cambogia and buckthorn, note authors E.A. Mazzio and K.F. Soliman.
Properties
The major constituent in bloodroot is an alkaloid called sanguinarine. Laboratory research such as a 2008 study in "Chemotherapy" indicates that sanguinarine can cause cancer cell death, or aptosis. Researchers are still studying the mechanism by which this occurs, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York. For example, this alkaloid appears to activate pro-apoptotic proteins in prostate cancer cells that may lead to their death.
Considerations
While anti-tumor properties have been identified in bloodroot, its effectiveness and safety has not been tested in people, note the experts at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Also, using bloodroot topically to treat skin cancer can cause disfigurement and other severe adverse effects. For example, in one case a man reportedly treated himself with a "black salve" made of bloodroot and zinc chloride on the lower left side of his nose, or nasal ala. The result was the loss of the nasal ala, reports Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Bloodroot also may cause angioedema, or a swelling resembling hives that occurs under your skin. More common adverse reactions include nausea, dizziness, vertigo, skin irritation, vomiting, esophageal burning or burning gums, systemic burning and white spots on your mouth. This herb may also interfere with action of antiarrhythmic medicines and raise risk for bleeding when taken with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. Avoid it if you have glaucoma.
History and Use
The claims for bloodroot as a cancer treatment are long-standing. Native Americans living along Lake Superior used the sap to treat cancerous growths on skin. Reports in 18 and early 19th century medical botany texts also point to bloodroot as a remedy for superficial tumors and as a cancer-treatment agent. Bloodroot was included in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1926 as an official botanical drug. Despite their unproven benefit, escharotic or caustic pastes such as the combination of zinc chloride and bloodroot to treat skin cancer are still used today and are sometimes recommended by alternative practitioners, notes a 2002 review in "Archives of Dermatology." However, such remedies are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may cause problems like scarring and carcinomas that appear to heal but that recur deeply and spread, note authors S. McDaniel and G.D. Goldman.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bloodroot; November 2010
- "Chemotherapy"; Sanguinarine-Induced Apoptosis in Human Leukemia U937 cells via Bcl-2 Downregulation and Caspase-3 Activation; M.H. Han, et al.; 2008
- "Phytotherapy Research"; In Vitro Screening for the Tumoricidal Properties of International Medicinal Herbs; E.A. Mazzio and K.F. Soliman; 2009
- "Molecular Cancer Therapeutics"; Sanguinarine Causes Cell Cycle Blockade and Apoptosis of Human Prostate Carcinoma Cells via Modulation of Cyclin Kinase Inhibitor-Cyclin-Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Machinery; V.M. Adhami, et al.; 2004
- "Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants"; Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L., Papaveraceae) Enhances Proliferation and Cytokine Production by Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in an In Vitro Model; David S. Senchina, et al.; 2009
- "Archives of Dermatology"; Consequences of Using Escharotic Agents as Primary Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer; S. McDaniel and G.D. Goldman; 2002
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