How to Use Herbal Bloodroot

Bloodroot, botanically known as Sanguinaria, is a native herb of North America with a wide range of medicinal and pharmacological possibility. The rhizomes and flowers of the plant are a source of medicinal alkaloid chemicals such as sanguinarine, chelerythrine and homochelidonine, as well as natural resins, gums and malic acid. Bloodroot is a traditional herbal remedy for treating skin cancer, respiratory infections, asthma, nosebleeds and ulcers -- and modern herbalists continue to recommend and prescribe it today. Consult with your doctor before taking any herbs.

Things You'll Need

• Bloodroot dried herb
• Bloodroot tincture
• Bloodroot infusion
• Sanguinaria-fortified toothpaste or mouthwash

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Instructions

• 1

  Take bloodroot extract internally for respiratory illness. According to Gillian Painter, herbalist and author of "Materia Medica for the Southern Hemisphere," the uses of bloodroot in western herbal medicine centers primarily around the alkaloids dual ability to stimulate the clearing of fluids from the lungs while aiding the relaxation of bronchial muscles. These actions make bloodroot a useful herbal aid for treating symptoms associated with coughs, colds, bronchitis and asthma.

• 2

  Use bloodroot liquid extract to treat stomach ulcers. In a study published in "Phytotherapy Research" by the University of Illinois in 2003, researchers found that extracts of bloodroot had a significant effect on the bacteria known as helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori is an acid-resistant pathogen responsible for causing infections of the digestive tract and stomach ulcers. Bloodroot acts as an antimicrobial agent against helicobacter pylori and stops the growth of the bacteria.

• 3

  Improve the health of your teeth and gums with bloodroot. Recent research has found that bloodroot has a direct effect on dental plaque and can help prevent the growth of bacteria in teeth and gums. Sanguinarine, one of the active chemicals in bloodroot, is used in toothpastes and mouthwashes to reduce plaque at very low concentrations. During a study published in the the "Open Complementary Medicine Journal" in 2009 by the University of Sao Paulo, researchers found chewing gum with sanguinarine added to it was effective in reducing plaque and fighting streptococcus bacteria. Drinking bloodroot infusions or taking sanguinarine-fortified dental products will help preserve the strength and health of your teeth.

• 4

  Use bloodroot as a natural immune stimulant. In a study published in the "Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants" in 2009 by Drake University, both the flowers and roots of the bloodroot plant were found to modulate and stimulate human immune cells. This finding supports the traditional usage of bloodroot for respiratory infections and natural cancer treatment. Take bloodroot tincture internally to improve your immune response naturally and protect yourself against infection.

• 5

  Apply bloodroot extract externally on your skin to treat cancer. Bloodroot has been used for centuries as an escharotic agent -- meaning the extract of the root will chemically dissolve lesions and non-melanoma skin cancer when applied to affected areas. In a report published in "Archives of Dermatology" in 2002 cases of people using escharotic agents like bloodroot revealed mixed results -- some people experienced miraculous results, others dismal. Researchers recommend further studies on escharotic agents. Use bloodroot topically under the direct supervision of an herbalist and health care professional.