Bloodroot, with the botanical name of sanguinaria candensis, is a poisonous perennial plant. It blooms in early spring with a white flower and is approximately 6 inches tall. Bloodroot grows in the eastern portions of the United States and Canada south to Florida and west to Arkansas and Nebraska according to Botanicals.com. Boodroot was used by some Native American tribes as a medicine to induce vomiting and stimulate the appetite. Currently, it is involved in controversial treatments for cancer and as plaque and gingivitis fighting additives for toothpaste.
Unconventional Treatments for Skin Cancer
According to the Archives of Dermatology, caustic pastes have been used for centuries to destroy skin lesions. A popular cure on the Internet is the use of sanguinaria and zinc chloride to treat skin cancer. It is marketed under a wide variety of different names. The basic action is that affected tissues will necrosis, separate from surrounding tissue and fall out. In 1930, Frederic Mohs successfully pioneered this paste, but used it in conjunction with surgery, terming this technique chemosurgery. Some patients have had some success with this treatment alone. However, skin cancer treatments by conventional methods currently have a high rate of success. This folk treatment often destroys good tissue, requiring surgical repair.
Dangerous Treatment for Breast Cancer
There are many Internet sites that sell bloodroot pills to consume internally to treat breast cancer. Some sites recommend taking the pills along with other treatments. Other sites recommend using a salve similar to the treatment for skin cancer. Most experts consider both of these treatments unsafe. Not only can they cause disfigurement and tissue damage, often patients using this treatment delay conventional treatment which, if done in a timely fashion, could save their life.
According to the Natural Standard, "In 2005, legal action was taken against an unlicensed practitioner for prescribing bloodroot to several women with breast cancer who suffered disfigurement and tissue damage after topically using the cream."
Potential for Leukoplakia
There have been a large number of studies regarding the use of sanguinaria as an additive in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis and prevent plaque buildup. Most of these studies support the safety of this additive and the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) have allowed it.
However, researchers at Ohio State University, School of Dentistry noticed a correlation between leukoplakias, precancerous white patches in the mouth and the use of Viadent, a toothpaste containing bloodroot. Additionally, the College of Dentistry at the University of Kentucky's Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology studied this correlation and in their report concluded: "Use of Viadent products appear to be associated with an increased prevalence of leukoplakia in the Maxillary Vestibule." Researchers at CanTox Health Sciences International, Inc., located in Mississauga, Ontario studied the correlation and have disagreed with the other two findings and find no relationship.
References
- Archives of Dermatoloty:Consequences of Using Escharotic Agents
- Pub Med: Leukoplakia of the maxillary vestibule--an association with Viadent?
- Pub Med: Viadent usage and oral leukoplakia: a spurious association.
- Pub Med: Sanguinaria-related leukoplakia: epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of a recently described entity.
- Pub Med:Sanguinaria toothpaste and oral rinse regimen clinical efficacy in short- and long-term trials.
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