Bloodroot:
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) had many uses for native tribes. The juice from the rhizome (root) was used as body paint and dye. A folklore legend says that a tribal woman was presented to a colonist at Jamestown as a bedmate and arrived in nothing but a coating of bloodroot and that this practice of coating the body with bloodroot was the reason the colonists called the natives Red Skins. This story is doubtful as bloodroot is an escharotic and will kill tissue leaving severe disfigurement.
Young men of the Ponca tribe put bloodroot juice on the palm of their hands and tried to touch the palms of the girls of the tribe. They believed that it would make the girl willing to marry them within 5-6 days.
While bloodroot was prescribed for many uses, it’s more practical use was treating conditions of the skin like ringworm, warts and fungals.
People use the underground stem (rhizome) to make medicine.
Bloodroot is used to cause vomiting, empty the bowels, and reduce tooth pain. It is also used to treat croup, hoarseness (laryngitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), poor circulation in the surface blood vessels, nasal polyps, achy joints and muscles (rheumatism), warts, and fever.
Some people apply bloodroot directly to the skin around wounds to remove dead tissue and promote healing. During the mid-1800s, bloodroot extracts were applied to the skin as part of the Fell Technique for treatment of breast tumors.
In dentistry, bloodroot is used on the teeth to reduce the build-up of plaque. Plaque is a film of saliva, mucus, bacteria, and food particles that can promote gum disease.
How does it work?
Bloodroot contains chemicals that might help fight bacteria, inflammation, and plaque.
Bloodroot might be safe for most people, when used short-term. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and grogginess.
Skin contact with the fresh plant can cause a rash. Don’t let bloodroot get into your eyes because it can cause irritation.
Long-term use or high doses of bloodroot could be UNSAFE. At high doses it can cause low blood pressure, shock, coma, and an eye disease called glaucoma.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t take bloodroot if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It could be UNSAFE.
Stomach or intestinal problems such as infections, Crohn's disease, or other inflammatory conditions: Bloodroot can irritate the digestive tract. Don’t use it if you have any of these conditions.
An eye disease called glaucoma: Bloodroot might affect glaucoma treatment. If you have glaucoma, don’t use bloodroot unless a healthcare professional recommends it and monitors your eye health.
The appropriate dose of bloodroot depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for bloodroot. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Information from webmd.comAttachment 10279Attachment 10280
