Watching the big snowflakes coming down this morning makes me think of finding white that is not so cold and looking for white in the form of a spring flower. The Bloodroot is an eastern North American native plant and was used as a popular red natural dye by Native American artists. A break in stem would reveal the reddish sap or ‘blood’, leading to its name. The Bloodroot is often the second wildflower to appear in the spring after the Hepatica in my woods.
Native Americans, early settlers and herbal practitioners have prescribed Bloodroot for medical conditions from skin cancers to sore throats. Its most common use takes advantage of the flesh destroying properties of the root juice or powered root for treating conditions of the skin such as ringworm, moles and warts. Bloodroot is used in the mole remover Dermatend. An extract has long been used in toothpaste and mouthwash to fight plaque and gingivitis and this use is now sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Finding White in the Bloodroot
Full of good information today. didn’t know a thing about bloodroot.
Beautiful picture!!!!