Bloodroot
Botanical Description & Habitat
Sanguinaria canadensis
Family
Rosaceae
Common Names
| Indian paint | Indian plant |
| Indian red paint | Pauson |
| Red paint root | Red puccoon |
| Red root | Sanguinaria |
Habitat
Shaded rich soils in the N.E. states of the U.S.
Medicinal Parts
Rootstock
Historical Properties & Uses
It is said the key to effective and safe use of bloodroot is to use it in very small amounts. In that case it can be used as a very good expectorant, and externally for sores, eczema, etc.
Bloodroot has also been used as a diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, stimulant and tonic.
Bloodroot is most often combined with other expectorant herbs. Compound White Pine Syrup, a popular medicine, contains bloodroot, spikenard root, balm of gilead bud, white pine and wild cherry bark.
Among some Indian tribes, bloodroot was used as a narcotic, and today it is used as an opium substitute by many Americans.
The native Americans also used it to treat rheumatism, which use was made by whites for decades, but is not longer accepted as safe and reliable.
Homeopathic dilutions are commonly used in today's herbal medicine.
Recent research suggests the antibiotic action of bloodroot can be harnessed and used in toothpaste to prevent plaque and gingivitis. It has been on the market in Europe for a few years, and is currently being promoted in the United States itself.
It is now noted as a toothpaste and mouthwash for its efficacy against plaque.
Reference:
The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Jul,1992.
Method of Action
The Pharmacology of Bloodroot
Bloodroot is rich in powerful alkaloids, including sanguarine, protopine, berberine, allocryptopine, chelilutine, coptisine, and others. These have been shown to be expectorant, antibiotic, demulcent, sedative at large doses, emmenagogue and emetic at large doses.
Bloodroot has Excellent Antibiotic Action
The antibiotic effect of bloodroot is well established as can be witnessed by the use of a bloodroot extract in American made toothpastes, in spite FDA classifications. It also works by converting carbohydrates into gum-eating acid, and by blocking the enzymes that destroy collagen in gum tissue.
A recent study even says bloodroot toothpaste will control bad breath by neutralizing volatile sulphur compounds; for this use it must be combined with zinc chloride.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes bloodroot as an expectorant, spasmolytic, emetic, cathartic, antiseptic, cardioactive, topical irritant, and escharotic, for use in the treatment of bronchitis, sub-acute or chronic; asthma, croup, laryngitis, pharyngitis, deficient capillary circulation; a snuff for nasal polypous.
Specific indications are asthma and bronchitis with feeble peripheral circulation. Bloodroot is often combined with lobelia in bronchitic asthma; combined with sage and cayenne as a gargle in pharyngitis; combined with greater celandine as a topical application to warts; and combined with slippery elm bark for chilblains.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Insofar as its diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, bloodroot may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuremic effects of glucose elevating agents.
Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine. The effects of dopamine and diuretic agents are additive.
In sub-laxative and sub-emetic doses bloodroot should have no drug interactions. At higher doses, interactions similar to those involving diuretics and cathartics may occur.
Possible Interactions
In conjunction with ACTH or corticosteroids, this diuretic is more prone to produce hypokalemia. The use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs. The diuretic action of bloodroot may reduce renal clearance of lithium.
An initial dose of captopril (an antihypertensive) may cause a severe drop in blood pressure within three hours if the person is also using a strong diuretic.
Bloodroot should not be used with methotrimeprazine, a potent CNS depressant analgesic. Additive effects may occur between the hypotensive property of bloodroot and that of dopamine receptor agonists such as bromocriptine mesylate.
Bloodroot should be used with caution in conjunction with CNS depressants or stimulants.
Comments
Prolonged use of this diuretic may affect certain lab test results such as electrolytes (especially potassium and sodium), BUN, uric acid, glucose, and pbi.
Strong diuretics such as this in conjunction with indomethacin may produce natriuretic effects.
In the absence of other hard data, it may still be assumed observable interactions may occur between the many central nervous system drugs and the psychoactive principles in bloodroot.
There is evidence combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the '-static' variety. How this finding applies to herbal antibiotics is not known.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Bloodroot is classified as an unsafe herb by the FDA, as it certainly is for anybody who doesn't know how to use it--of course the same could be said about nutmeg, a "safe" herb. In toxic doses, bloodroot causes paralysis, vomiting, vertigo, collapse, prostration.
Bloodroot was recently banned for food use in Canada.
Reference:
Becci, PJ et al., Short-term toxicity studies of sanguinarine and of two alkaloid extracts of Sanguinaria canadensis. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 1987, 20:199.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Decoction
Use 0.06-0.5g of dried rhizome
Liquid Extract
Use 0.06-0.3ml of 1:1 in 60% alcohol
Tincture
Use 0.3-2ml of 1:5 in 60% alcohol
Emetic Dose
Use 1-2g of rhizome
1-2ml of liquid extract
2-8ml of tincture
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Association. 1983.
Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. 36(4), 297, 1985.
The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Jul,1992.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Multimedia
Sanguinaria canadensis
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
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