Sanguinaria canadensia
(Blood root)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antibacterial
• Antiviral
• Cardioactive
• Emetic
• Expectorant
• Relaxes bronchial muscles
• Stimulates peripheral circulation
• Uncouples oxidative phosphorylation and intercalate with DNA

Clinical Indications:

• Aphthous stomatitis
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Laryngitis
• Nasal polypi

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy due to the uterine effects of berberine, chelerythrine and protopine

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• Isoquinoline alkaloids:
  
  Berberine
  Chelerythrine
  Chelilutine
  Chelirubine
  Coptisine
  Oxysanguinaridine
  Protopine
  Sanguidaridine
  Sanguidimerine
  Sanguilutine
  Sanguinarine
  Sanguirubine
  a- and B-allocryptopine

Toxicity:

• Symptoms:
  
  Diarrhea
  Dilated pupils
  Headaches
  Increased expectoration
  Muscular relaxation
  Nausea
  Cold extremeties
  Vomiting
  Death by cardiac failure
• Treatment:
  
  Charcoal
  Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
  Strong tea
  

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).