Dangers and Uses of Bloodroot

Mr. Wright was a kind, loveable, slightly senile minister who believed whole-heartedly in the healing power of herbs. His beliefs were well-founded -- pygeum had completely eliminated his prostate swelling, hawthorne had cured his congestive heart failure, and psyllium husk had brought his cholesterol levels down to those of someone a fraction of his age. I viewed Mr. Wright as a walking example of the efficacy of evidence-based integrative medicine -- but when he developed skin cancer and used bloodroot to treat it, I witnessed the dangers of bloodroot first-hand.

Over the course of several months, I saw Mr. Wright's face fall off. He came to the store where I worked once a week to buy organic bread and saw palmetto. The small malignant mole on his nose eventually became a band-aid, which eventually became a piece of taped gauze, which eventually became a massive, bloody wrapping that covered most of his face. The dangers of bloodroot revealed themselves before my very eyes, but Mr. Wright's dedication to bloodroot didn't abate. Even as I urged him to discontinue bloodroot and see a physician, he continued allowing the product to eat his face.

Bloodroot is both powerfully medicinal and extremely dangerous. Like all potent medicinal herbs, it should be handled with extreme caution. Dr. Andrew Weil recommend the cautious use of bloodroot to eliminate skin tags, and the Food and Drug Administration approves of bloodroot as a treatment for gingivitis and tooth decay. Nevertheless, the dangers of bloodroot are many. If you are interested in using bloodroot for any purpose, understand the potential risks.

Is Bloodroot a Fake Cancer Cure?

Bloodroot works as a skin cancer treatment because it directly digests human flesh. Dr. Andrew Weil notes that medical doctors sometimes use Mohs chemosurgery, a specialized form of bloodroot extract treatment, to eliminate skin cancers. Mohs chemosurgery has a very high rate and very little risk of disfigurement. However, this process uses expensive, scientific technology-- not just a caustic salve applied to a lesion.

As an at-home cancer treatment, bloodroot preparations are far from effective. Herbalist Ingrid Naiman notes that, in many cases, patients who have attempted to self-treat skin cancer have later experienced a relapse. Home treatments can not successfully eliminate all cancerous cells; malignant tissue may be left behind even after treatment is over. And if the patient does use bloodroot until all cancer cells are eliminated, he may-- like Mr. Wright-- also lose a significant portion of his skin, flesh, and even bone.

Disfigurement and Pain

Intensive topical bloodroot treatments are almost universally painful. Treatments that continue more than a few days or weeks tend to also result in severe scarring. While many people have used small amounts of bloodroot powder to eliminate non-malignant moles and skin tags, other herbs like neem present a safer alternative with a lower risk of side effects. Contrary to popular misconception, bloodroot does not target only diseased tissue-- it will consume anything in its path.

Anti-alternative medicine writer Stephen Barrett, founder of Quackwatch, reports extensively on the dangers of bloodroot. Mr. Wright was not alone in his experience with the herb. Several case reports explain the effects of caustic salves containing bloodroot and other compounds. Barrett's site shows images of people who have lost entire sections of their faces because of bloodroot. One patient's shoulder bone was exposed after he had applied a bloodroot-based salve to his skin.

Oral Bloodroot Use: Safe?

Bloodroot's most promising -- and evidence-based -- use is as a treatment for gingivitis and other forms of periodontal disease. In fact, even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves of bloodroot extract as an ingredient in toothpastes and mouthwashes. I have personally used small amounts of bloodroot extract to eliminate halitosis and prevent gum disease. Nevertheless, even this use is a subject of some controversy.

George T. Gallagher, a respected dentist and professor, wrote a letter to the FDA in 2003, in which he asked that the organization consider bloodroot extract to be unproven until further studies have evaluated its safety. Referencing preliminary studies and his own clinical experience, Gallagher asserts that bloodroot extract can cause leukoplakia-- pre-cancerous mouth sores-- if used in oral health care products. This condition is usually seen only in people who smoke or chew tobacco; however, people who use oral bloodroot products may also be at risk for developing this complication.

I admire bloodroot as a plant. Its bright-red root, sanguine juice and potent medicinal properties make it a treasure to North America. Bloodroot provides us with natural dyes and paint pigments. It has facilitated to the development of Mohs chemosurgery -- an effective, clinical form of skin cancer treatment. It has provided us with a sustainable compound that can help to prevent dental disease. Nevertheless, bloodroot should be viewed with fear-- not just admiration. Talk to your doctor*before using bloodroot for any purpose. Even if your doctor gravitates toward naturopathy, she'll probably advise that you avoid using bloodroot topically. Unless you'd like to lose half of your face, I'll concur with her assessment.