Bloodroot Botanical name: Sanguinaria canadensis. Bloodroot is also called Indian Paint, Indian red paint, Indian plant, Red paint root, Red Root, Redroot, Tetterwort, Puccoon, Red Pucoon, Paucon, Coon Root, Snakebite, Sanguinaria, Sweet Slumber, and Pauson. Bloodroot is the only species of the genus Sanguinaria. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant, with ephemeral lovely white spring flowers with yellow centers, that bloom March to April. It is one of the first plants of spring to flower. Bloodroot is indigenous to the Eastern region of the United States and Canada and usually grows on banks or slopes at the moist edges of woody areas. The plant does not like to much deep shade or too much direct sunlight or dry soil. The sap looks like blood and is toxic. The root has been used by the American Indians as a dye, to treat fevers, cough, asthma, bronchitis, lung ailments, laryngyitis, to remove moles and warts as a remedy for skin cancer and for ritual skin paint. Bloodroot tincture is sometimes in cough-relieving formulas, and in toothpaste. Bloodroot is a powerful herb, be careful with it's use, it contains toxic alkaloids, it is not food, an overdose can kill you. Self medication should be avoided, do not use without medical supervision. only small amounts of bloodroot should be taken internally and should not be used long term. Children and pregnant or lactating women should not use this herb. 
Photographer Karen Shelton www.altnature.com Buy Bloodroot at Years to Your Health |