RED ROOT
–Ceanothus Americanus, Ceanothus Fendleri, Ceanothus Velutinus, Ceanothus
Cuneatus, Ceanothus Herbaceum, Ceanothus Spinosus, Ceanothus Greggii, etc.
Also
known as: New Jersey Tea, deer brush, snowbrush, desert
ceanothus, grub roots, green buckbrush, bloodroot, etc.
Parts
used: root, leaves, flowers
Systems/organs
affected: liver, lymph, spleen, blood, digestive, nervous,
bowel, lungs
Properties:
astringent, scrofulous, hemostatic, antispasmodic, expectorant, hypotensive,
sedative, lymph stimulant, lymph tonic, anti-inflammatory, alterative,
antisyphilitic, heaptic, splenic stimulant, antibacterial, nervine, antiviral
RED ROOT
is a member of the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family. It is indigenous to the
Americas although it has been naturalized elsewhere. There are between 60-80 different species of
this plant and it does cross breed so new hybrids seem to pop up all the
time. It has ovate shaped leaves with
three predominant veins that start at the base of the leaf and continue out to
the margins. It is a rather hardy shrub
like plant that can be anywhere from 12 inches to 25 feet tall. Some varieties have thorns on them while
others do not. The flowers grow in
feathery clusters and can be greenish white to white in color-some are fragrant
while others are not. Again it depends
on the variety. (The smell is said to be
sweetly nauseating-so like cooking honey).
The flowers give way to a tri-lobed seed capsule that turn a reddish
color when mature. The root is red (when
picked at the proper time-otherwise it is white to pinkish) which is where the
name comes from. It has also been
referred to as blood root (Sanguinaria Canadensis) which is an ENTIRELY
different species of plant so please pay attention to the Latin! The seeds of this plant can lie dormant for
200 years or more waiting for fire to germinate them. They are also one of the first plants to come
back from a fire and help with soil erosion (much like ocean spray plant or
fireweed). It typically blooms from June
to August and can be found growing in coastal shrub lands to forest clearings
from British Columbia to Guatemala and throughout the Rockies. The dried leaves have been compared to black
tea in flavor but the root is where the true medicinal content of the plant
lies. The root is best harvested in late
fall to early spring (Nov. & Feb.). The
root should be chopped up into small pieces while fresh because once dried it
takes a tank to crush it.
Red root is considered by many herbalists to be a plant for
the herbal kit. (In other words not to
be without). It has many medicinal uses
but it is perhaps best known for what it does for the lymph system. Chemical components within the plant
stimulate the lymphatic system to flow thus removing blockages and/or toxins.
It also works as a tonic to the lymph-toning the system as it heals. It is best
used with other lymphatic (Scrofulous) herbs for this purpose rather than
alone. For this reason it makes it a perfect herb for anything that effects the
lymph system such as appendicitis, enlarged spleen, tonsillitis and other lymph
node issues in the body. Traditional
Chinese medicine believes that the spleen plays a significant role in how the
body metabolizes and uses food. They
believe it is a splenic imbalance that causes digestive issues and sluggish
metabolic function. (To many herbalists
the spleen is the biggest lymph node).
Red root has a lengthy history. It was in the King’s Dispensary (1898) along
with a host of other herbal works from that period. The leaves were typically used during that
time but weren’t considered as effective as other herbs for illnesses (not
medicinal enough). The root didn’t
become popular until the mid 1900’s even though the Native Americans had been
using it for decades. The Cherokee used
the root to tone the digestive tract, for skin cancer and venereal sores. The Chippewa used it for lung issues,
constipation, shortness of breath and digestive problems. The Iroquois used the root for colds and to
improve blood circulation. The leaves
were used for diarrhea. It was also used
by many tribes as a wash for wounds and venereal diseases and as firewood when
timber was scarce. Father Pierre
d’Incarville, a French Jesuit and botanist (1700’s) was one of the first to
bring the plant back to his home country, where it was used much like the
natives used it. Early Eclectic
physicians used it as a mucolytic agent due to its ability to move fluids in
the body. It was used for varicose
veins, broken capillaries, reproductive cysts, hemorrhoids, to improve arterial
blood flow and more. The European
colonists used it to alleviate whooping cough and other respiratory
complaints. During the Revolutionary War
it was used as a substitute for tea (the leaves) and in Civil War times it was
employed for malarial splenitis (enlarged spleen due to malaria). In fact in the Eclectic Medical Journal
(1898, 4th Edition, vol. 58:301-302) it states,
“In malarial splenitis of a chronic nature,
and subsequent malarial anemia, ceanothus is a valuable remedy. Because of its stimulating effect upon the
mucus membranes of the body, and its stimulating action upon the blood supply
of the stomach, ceanothus is an excellent remedy in some cases of
dyspepsia-those in which there is a depraved blood supply, little absorption,
poor hepatic and splenic action.” It
goes on to say that due to those actions it makes it a beneficial plant for
diarrhea, dysentery, gonorrhea, asthma, menorrhagia, cancer, syphilis, chronic
bronchitis, sore throat and/or mouth, etc.
Michael Moore calls it one of the most unsung herbs of our time.
Red root contains a chemical called ceanothine. This compound is believed to give the plant
most of its medicinal value although it does have a host of other beneficial
components and acids. For many herbalists
the spleen is the key for using this plant.
It is a deficiency in the spleen that leads to things like Crohn’s
disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis and a host of other intestinal
and/or digestive issues. This also plays
a role in skin disorders as well as the two are irrevocably connected. Other conditions that are affected by
inadequate lymphatic or spleen function are mononucleosis, strep infections,
gingivitis, dental plaque, leukemia, AIDS, mastitis, tonsillitis, anemia,
Hodgkin’s disease, rheumatic conditions, hepatitis, bad skin/acne, ongoing
headaches, lupus, lyme disease and other autoimmune disorders, etc. (Who knew so many things could be affected by
such small things?!)
Henriette’s Herbal says that water is the best menstruum for
this herb. Basically it says that,
“When purified, ceanothine is white, its odor
and taste is similar to that of green tea; it is soluble in water, but
insoluble in alcohol, ether, and carbon disulphide.”
Ceanothus Velutinus is the one most found in Idaho. There are other herbs that CAN be used as alternatives to red root but their
potentcy will vary. For instance, poke
root is a great alternative but needs to be used wisely and carefully as it is
three times as potent as red root so you would use one third the amount of poke
root as you would red root. Cleavers is
another option but it is not as potent as red root. You would need 4 times the amount of cleavers
as you would red root to get the same effect.
Red root has a high protein and calcium content. It also contains fair amounts of copper, iron
and zinc.
WebMD suggests
that this herb should not be taken by pregnant and/or nursing women, those on
blood thinners (red root has coagulating abilities), those on iron supplements
(it may interfere with absorption), those with digestive issues, glaucoma those
taking blood pressure or cholesterol meds and those scheduled for surgical
procedures. Too much red root can cause
a loss of appetite, low blood pressure, drowsiness, vomiting, shock, diarrhea,
headaches, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, glaucoma and coma. (Those are RARE and only come from extended
long period use). Consult with a
qualified physician before ever beginning an herbal product or regimen.
As is customary with my posts I am including some links herein for your perusal. Stay strong and healthy!
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