- Bloodroot typically grows to a height of about 6 to 7 inches and is commonly found in moist and shaded woodland areas. Each plant has a single pale green basal leaf that is palmate and lobed. When the plant emerges from the ground, the leaf is wrapped around the flower. As the flower blooms, the leaf will open fully. The flower itself is white and consists of 8 to 12 petals and a bright yellow center. On occasion, a double flower will appear and is considered desirable by gardeners. The stem of the bloodroot plant is round and often red to orange in color. The roots grow a rhizome that exudes a thick red sap when scratched or broken which gives the plant its name. This rhizome can branch out and produce additional colonies of the plant.
- This flowering herbaceous plant is native to the eastern part of North America, with a range that extends from Nova Scotia in Canada and all the way south to Florida in the United States. For the most part, bloodroot is rare and is considered endangered. For that reason, it should be cultivated rather than harvested from the wild, as its endangered status makes wild harvesting illegal. Bloodroot can be grown from root cuttings or seeds, all of which, including seedling plants, can be purchased from reputable nurseries and other cultivators. It prefers moist, rich soil that is slightly acidic and takes well to shaded or wooded areas.
- Bloodroot produces several morphine-like alkaloid toxins, the foremost of which is sanguinarine. Sanguinarine is an escharotic and kills animal tissue, which makes taking proper precautions when handling bloodroot necessary as it can lead to severe disfigurement.
- Some North American tribes have long used bloodroot for a variety of purposes. These purposes included using the plant as a treatment for sore throats to ritual body paint to fabric dye. In other tribes, it was used as a charm to win the heart of a desired mate. At times, Native American healers would prescribe bloodroot as an emetic to help with digestive issues.
- Bloodroot is still utilized today, although its use as a medicinal herb is strongly warned against. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of sanguinarine in mouthwash and toothpaste because it works to fight plaque and gingivitis. How safe the inclusion of this extract in these products is, however, still under debate, as it is believed that it can lead to leukoplakia, a pre-malignant oral lesion. It is commonly used in other pharmaceuticals, such as medicines for treating heart problems and migraines. Other uses are currently being investigated.
- Despite its folkloric uses, do not take bloodroot internally or apply to the skin.
