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basics, recipes, health
What is Bloodroot?
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis), commonly known as bloodroot, is a
low-growing, North American flowering plant and the sole member of its
genus. This fact doesn’t mean that the plant is less than prolific, however,
since its propagation is aided by the activity of ants. In a type of
mutualism called myrmecochory, ants collect and store bloodroot seeds in the
colony to be used as food. Some of the seeds are consumed, but others are
nourished by by-products produced in the nest and later germinate.
Formulas & recipes
Bloodroot salve recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup bloodroot herb
- 1 cup olive oil
- ¼ cup beeswax
Combine bloodroot and olive oil in saucepan and heat on low, stirring occasionally for at least 3 hours. After 3 hours, turn off the stove and let the mixture cool until the temperature is comfortable enough to handle.
Pour the mixture into a cheesecloth and let all the oil strain out. Make sure to squeeze the cheesecloth to extract any extra oil. While oil is being strained, heat up the beeswax on the stove in the same saucepan. Stir in the bloodroot mix until everything is the same color and texture throughout. Remove from heat and quickly pour into preferred salve tin or jar. Once the mixture drys it will be solid and salve consistency!
Health benefits
Bloodroot herb benefits
The chief chemical component of this herb is sanguinarine, which actually
represents a group of alkaloids that produce effects similar to morphine
Ironically, however, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration allows this
substance to be incorporated into toothpastes and mouthwashes designed to
reduce dental plaque. Although bloodroot alkaloids are indeed
antibacterial, sanguinarine has been found to be less effective than other
anti-plaque agents, such as chlorhexidine and doxycycline. More importantly,
sanguinarine has been linked to an increased risk of developing oral
leukoplakia and oral cancer. While many manufacturers have removed
sanguinarine from their products, other dental preparations that contain
this substance may still exist. Setting the cancer controversy aside,
sanguinarine is known to induce uterine contractions, so it should be
avoided by pregnant women entirely.
In another ironic twist, the toxic effects of bloodroot alkaloids may also
offer anti-cancer benefits. For instance, researchers at Drake University in
Iowa have recently discovered that sanguinarine significantly inhibits
growth in K562 cells, a line of human myelogenous leukemia cells. Although
studies are currently focused on using cultured cells rather than humans,
it's possible that bloodroot extracts may one day be used in cancer therapy.
Used externally, bloodroot has some very specific and highly desirable
qualities—if used properly. Specifically, bloodroot alkaloids effectively
dissolve unsightly moles, warts and skin tags. In fact, bloodroot is the
active ingredient in Dermatend, a commercial cream mole remover. However,
since bloodroot preparations can also damage healthy skin, they should be
used carefully and never on broken skin or sensitive areas, such as the
eyelids, lips or genitals.
references
Eversole LR, Eversole GM, Kopcik J. Sanguinaria-associated oral leukoplakia: Comparison with other benign and dysplastic leukoplakic lesions. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod . 2000;89:455-464.
Brinker FJ. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions . 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications; 1998.
Damm D, et al. Leukoplakia of the maxillary vestibule — an association with Viadent ? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;87:61-66.
