As a Medicine

• Bloodroot has many medicinal applications. Native Americans in the early 1800s utilized it as a dye, a love charm and a cure for diseases. Bloodroot contains alkaloids that have potent antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects. When used in small doses, it soothes and relaxes muscles---even the muscle in the lungs. Medium doses provide a stimulating effect. Large doses are not recommended, because they can cause irritation to the mucous membranes.
  Bloodroot has been used to treat asthma, emphysema, laryngitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis, sore throat, croup and migraines. When used externally, it has been used to treat warts, benign skin tumors, ulcers, eczema, chilblains and ringworm.
  
  

For Dental Issues

• Because bloodroot has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, brushing with the active alkaloid in bloodroot provides long-lasting protection against dental plaque and gingival inflammation. The alkaloid has also been added to oral rinses.
  During the 1980s and 90s, scientists studied the safety of humans and animals who used the bloodroot alkaloid as a dental care product. Their findings were inconsistent. One study concluded that oral care products that included the bloodroot alkaloid significantly reduced the occurrence of oral plaque and gingivitis-related inflammation and bleeding. Another study found that there was no significant difference between bloodroot oral care products and regular products. After years of debate, scientists concluded that these studies varied too greatly in their methods, design and execution.
  
  

As a Feed Additive

• The bloodroot alkaloid has been added to feed given to cattle and sheep to act as a botanical dewormer. A German company called Phytobiotics GmbH uses bloodroot to naturally fatten cattle.
  
  

As a Pesticide

• The active alkaloid has been concentrated to different levels and tested as a pesticide against a few pests, including mosquitoes and cabbage looper larvae. Bloodroot was very effective against mosquitoes, but not against cabbage looper larvae.
  
  

Worldwide Market Demand

• The market for bloodroot in the United States in the early 1990s was about 200 tons. The estimated world market demand was about ten times that amount. Popular preparations include powdered root; cut, dried root; liquid extract; cut and sifted root; and seeds for propagation.