Bloodroot : Sanguinaria Candensis
King Root
Red Root
Tetterwort
Indian Paint
Red Puccoon
Paucon
Coon Root
Snakebite
Sweet Slumber
A masculine plant, ruled by the planet Mars, a plant of Fire…
From “Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs” ~ Bloodroot is carried or worn to draw love. It is also carried to avert evil spells and negativity. Place near doorways and windowsills so the home will be protected. The darkest red roots are considered to be the best, and are known as “king roots” or “he roots.”
I like that!
Now, from M. Grieve ~
“The rootstock is thick, round and fleshy, slightly curved at ends, and contains an orange-red juice, and is about 1 to 4 inches long, with orange-red rootlets. When dried it breaks with a short sharp fracture, little smell, taste bitter acrid and persistent, powdered root causes sneezing and irritation of the nose. The root is collected in the Autumn, after leaves die down; it must be stored in a dry place or it quickly deteriorates.
The root has long been used by the American Indians as a dye for their bodies and clothes and has been used successfully by American and French dyers.”
Bloodroot is listed as a poison. It contains the opium alkaloid protopine. The rhizome contains red resin and an abundance of starch.
Don’t try eating it!
But in knowledgeable hands, it is an emetic, cathartic expectorant and emmenagogue. Used for dyspepsia, asthma, bronchitis and croup. And many other things.
Maybe best just plant it by your door!m
