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An Internet misadventure: bloodroot salve toxicity
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miler School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA. Jcienki@jhsmiami.org
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
|October 12, 2010
Summary
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) salve, promoted online for skin conditions, caused severe harm in two patients. One developed malignant melanoma, while another experienced an enterocutaneous fistula, highlighting the dangers of unregulated herbal remedies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Integrative Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), a North American plant, contains sanguinarine, a potent escharotic alkaloid.
- Traditionally used by herbalists for skin lesions and sore throats.
- Widely available online as a "black salve" or "yellow salve" for various conditions, including skin cancer.
Observation:
- Case 1: A man self-treated a chest lesion with bloodroot salve, leading to ulceration, purulence, and eventual diagnosis of malignant melanoma.
- Case 2: A patient with metastatic colon cancer developed an enterocutaneous fistula after applying bloodroot salve to abdominal nodules.
Findings:
- Self-treatment with bloodroot salve resulted in severe adverse effects, including delayed diagnosis of malignancy and iatrogenic fistula formation.
- The unregulated nature of online health information facilitates the promotion of potentially toxic alternative therapies.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers need increased awareness of the risks associated with unregulated herbal remedies like bloodroot.
- Patients should discuss all alternative therapies, especially those obtained online, with their supervising physician.
- The promotion of unproven and potentially dangerous treatments online necessitates greater regulatory oversight and public health education.
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