-IBIS-1.5.0-

rx

herb

Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)

botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Sanguinaria canadensis

synonyms: bloodroot, Indian paint, Indian plant, Indian red paint, pauson, red paint root, red puccoon, red root, tetterwort, kanadische blutwurzel, sanguinaire

part(s) used: root

qualities:

affinities:

actions:

dosage:

» powder: 0.5 - 2 g.

» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.

therapy:

AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b, 2d

toxicity: 3

» treatment of overdose: gastric lavage and emesis; warm milk is recommended; cardiac stimulants might be needed for cases of impending collapse (Duke, p. 425)

» warning: sanguinarine has been linked to bladder tumors (Keeler and Tu, p. 259)

» contraindicated in pregnancy due to its emmenogogue effect and the uterine stimulant action on animal uteri by its alkaloids: berberine, protopine, chelerythrine (Brinker, Lust, Farnsworth)

» a few cases of individual hypersensitivity reactions have occurred; external and oral dermatitial reactions to the latex have been seen; these may be followed by gastric burning and dysuria (Levy and Primack, pp. 99-100; Muenscher, p. 10)

» other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, accompanied by intense thirst, syncope, dimness and tunneling of vision, vertigo; large doses result in emesis, along with slow, weakened and irregular heartbeat with palpitations; severe cases result in reduced body temperature, extreme prostration, clonic convulsions, hypotension, respiratory paralysis, shock and collapse (Brundage, pp. 99-100; Phillips, p. 80; US Dispensatory, pp. 1210-1211)

» laboratory test results: hematuria; urinalysis mimics the findings for opium abuse (Duke, p. 425)

constituents: isoquinoline alkaloids, including sanguinarine

footnotes

Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Brundage, A.H. 1929. A Manual of Toxicology, 15th ed. New York: D. Appleton and Co.

Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.

Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.

Keeler, R.F., and Tu, A.T. 1983. Handbook of Natural Toxins. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Levy, C.K.; and Primack, R.B. 1984. A Field Guide to Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. The Stephen Green Press.

Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.

Muenscher, W.C. 1951. Poisonous Plants of the United States. New York: The MacMillan Company.

Osol, A, Farrar, G.E., Wood, Jr., H.C. 1955. The Dispensatory of the United States of America. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.

Phillips, C.D. 1879. Materia Medica and Therapeutics: Vegetable Kingdom. New York: William Wood and Company.

en Green Press.

Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.

Muenscher, W.C. 1951. Poisonous Plants of the United States. New York: The MacMillan Company.

Osol, A, Farrar, G.E., Wood, Jr., H.C. 1955. The Dispensatory of the United States of America. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.

Phillips, C.D. 1879. Materia Medica and Therapeutics: Vegetable Kingdom. New York: William Wood and Company.

getable Kingdom. New York: William Wood and Company.