BLOOD ROOT

I recently read a book entitled "Essiac: A Native Herbal Cancer Remedy" by Cynthia Olsen. One section in it really caught my attention - the discussion on Blood Root - Sanguinaria canadensis. As an herbalist, I am aware of this potentially toxic plant and it's properties. But, as in all things ingested, dosage is the determining factor between helpful and harmful. My herbal manuals warn of not using this root except under very careful supervision by a trained person.

In the book, it mentions that Blood Root is sometimes used along with the essiac tea in helping with "stubborn" tumors. It is used in tincture form in very small amounts. The root has been preserved in alcohol, which will extract certain properties that water will not, and which will preserve the preparation for many years. The author writes: "Dosage: On the average 5-10 drops [not droppersfull] 2 times a day with your ‘tea.’. However, your tolerable threshold must be found. To accomplish this, start with 5 drops. Increase dosage by 1 drop per day until nausea occurs. If nausea occurs before you reach 10 drops, then back down 1 drop and hold that dosage. Do not under any circumstances exceed 10 drops [pp. 103-104]." The difficulty in starting this regimen would be for a person already experiencing nausea from chemotherapy.

We have a few clients who have begun this tincture; they have large tumors growing next to vital arteries. They are well aware of the risks and we wait to observe the results. From the very bottom of my heart, I hope it works!

Blood Root contains alkaloids, including whelidonine, berberine and chelerythrine. Among it's many other known constituents we find: 1) Coptisine (anti-inflammatory, antitumor); 2) Protopine (analgesic, antiaggregant, antiarrhythmic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, calcium-antagonist, hyper/hypotensive, sedative); and 3) Sanguinarine (anesthetic, antiacetylcholinersterase, antibacterial, anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, candidicide, cardiotonic, CNS depressant, diuretic, DNA intercalator, hepatotoxic). In small doses it is reported to stimulate digestive organs acting as a stimulant and tonic. In larger doses it is an arterial sedative. The primary meridians affected are those of the lung, heart and liver.

Sanguinaria gained public attention in Dr. Weil's book "Spontaneous Healing," wherein he mentioned it's use in the treatment of skin tumors and growths.

RED ROOT

Not to be confused with Blood Root, this is Ceanothus americanus. This very hardy shrub is one of those found in a fairly large group known as Ceanothus. It is beautiful and one I am well acquainted with! Two primary constituents are present in the root: 1) Betulin (anticarcinomic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, cytotoxic, hypolipemic); and 2) Betulinic acid (Anti-HIV, anticarcinomic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antimelanomic, antiplasmoidal, antitumor, antiviral, cytotoxic).

I have a wonderful personal history of taking this root tincture. The lymph glands in my neck had been severely swollen since 1989 due to some health issues I had faced. I began reading as to how it seemed to help with congested lymph glands and nodes. Within a few months of starting a routine on it, the glands were almost back down to normal! Michael Moore states that this root is not for those under medical care for overt disease, but for healthy people under stress. In his book, "Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West," he also states: "you may wish to avoid it if you have overt blood disorders or if you are taking medication that is meant to affect blood clotting." Also use caution if you have a specific allergy to aspirin products, and use only moderately during pregnancy. There are no known contraindications when taking pharmaceuticals.

It is being utilized by those in the complementary health fields. In the book, "Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer,", Donald R. Yance, Jr., CN, MH, AHG, speaks of it being one of his favorite herbs to strengthen the lymph system, help remove wastes from the body, and stimulate digestion, the liver and the spleen. He also found it helps increase platelet counts, the decrease of which is sometimes encountered from cytotoxic drug use. He indicated as well that it raises the activity of T-cells. Under the section on anemia and supplements for low platelet counts, he gives the daily dosage of "60-120 drops [1/2 to 1 tsp] of tincture 3 times daily [It is truly amazing how well this works]"

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

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