Not Medical Advice: Indian mud, a term for bloodroot - a Native American medicine prized for its root sap that resembles blood has been promoted to be a potent anticancer agent.
Bloodroot has significant anti-infective properties, so much so that it has been used in gangrenous situations in lieu of amputation.
Bloodroot contains chemicals that might help fight bacteria, inflammation, and plaque.
Bloodroot is used to cause vomiting, empty the bowels, and reduce tooth pain. It is also used to treat croup, hoarseness (laryngitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), poor circulation in the surface blood vessels, nasal polyps, achy joints and muscles (rheumatism), warts, and fever.
Some people apply bloodroot directly to the skin around wounds to remove dead tissue and promote healing. During the mid-1800s, bloodroot extracts were applied to the skin as part of the Fell Technique for treatment of breast tumors.
In dentistry, bloodroot is used on the teeth to reduce the build-up of plaque. Plaque is a film of saliva, mucus, bacteria, and food particles that can promote gum disease.
Learn about the uses and potential benefits of Bloodroot at WebMD.com and Drugs.com.