Herbs Hub
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis. Botanical plate: Sanguinaria canadensis, Curtis's-162
Plate: Sanguinaria canadensis, Curtis's-162. William Curtis (1746–1799). Public domain.

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

Herbs & Roots. Native American and Western & European.

Also called Red puccoon, Indian paint, Tetterwort

Spanish: Sanguinaria

Toxic; causes tissue damage

A spring wildflower whose red root sap was used as a dye and paint, and which is toxic if swallowed.

Did you know? Its orange-red sap gave the plant its name, and Native peoples used it to dye baskets and as face paint.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Mouth, gums & teeth. Some trials of bloodroot toothpaste or rinse found less plaque or gum problems, but others found no clear effect.
    Early proof
  • Skin. Used as a black salve for skin growths. It can destroy healthy skin and has not been shown to work or to be safe.
    Not supported

Parts of the body

Mouth & throat, Skin & hair

Traditional use

Native peoples used the root for coughs, skin problems and dye. Folk healers and some Eclectic doctors later used its paste on skin growths, warts and sores.

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Expectorant, Antimicrobial. Energy: warming.

How people take it

Only used in some dental products made with a set amount, and those are not swallowed. Do not put homemade salves on the skin. No home dose is safe.

Powder, topical and tincture.

Where to get it

Grows in moist woods of eastern North America. Wild roots have been over-collected in many places. Sold as root powder, mouth rinses, toothpaste and skin salves.

Be careful

Toxic if swallowed. It can cause burning, vomiting, low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Skin salves can destroy healthy tissue and leave scars. Mouth products can irritate the gums. Avoid in pregnancy and in children.

Avoid if: pregnancy; children under 12; heart disease; low blood pressure.

Mixing with other things

No specific mixing notes on file. That doesn't prove it's safe with everything; ask a pharmacist about your full list.

The honest take

The only use with a real chance of benefit is some dental products, and even that evidence is mixed. Swallowing bloodroot or using its salves can cause serious harm and scarring. It has not been shown to work for skin growths.