Sanguinaria canadensis  Blood Root, Sweet Slumber, Red Indian Paint   Family: Papaveraceae      
Perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America.
PART USED: Rhizome. Collected in autumn and dried.
TASTE: Bitter and acrid. ODOR: Slight
ACTIONS
GROUP: Herbs for the lower respiratory tract
1. Antispasmodic.[1,2]
2. Cardiotonic. Cardioactive.[1]
3. Expectorant.[1,2]
4. Emetic.[1]
5. Carthartic.[1]
6. Antiseptic.[1]
7. Tonic and treat fevers.[2]
Topical- Irritant.[1] Caustic. Escharotic (damages tissue- third degree of irritation).[1] Skin infections and burns.[2] Recently ointments containing blood root have been used to treat epithelial tumours and skin infections.[5,6]
INDICATIONS- An ingredient of many cough preparations
1. Pharyngitis.[1,2] Bronchitis,[1,2] and asthma,[1,2] especially with poor peripheral circulation.[1,2] Croup.[1,2] Respiratory disorders generally.  Laryngitis.[1,2] Nasal polyps-[1,2] as snuff. Rhinitis.
2. Cardiac weakness. Palpitations. Tachycardia. Peripheral circulatory insufficiency. Deficient capillary circulation.
3. Anxiety.
4. Eczema especially associated with varicose ulcers.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Asthma and bronchitis with feeble peripheral circulation.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Large doses are poisonous, having a cathartic emetic and narcotic effect.
COMBINATIONS
- Bronchitic asthma- with Lobelia. 
- Pharyngitis- as gargle with Salvia and Capsicum. 
- Warts- topical application with Chelidonium.
- Chilblains- with Ulmus.
PREPARATIONS 3X/day
The rhizome is about 1 cm in diameter, 5 cm or more in length, reddish brown and longitudinally wrinkled. The fracture is short and shows a whitish transverse section with numerous red latex vessels. Rootlets are about 1 mm thick, brittle and wiry.
Powdered root 0.5-2 g.[4]
Dried Rhizome  0.06-0.5 g.[1] 0.6-2 g.[2]
Fluid Extract  1:1 in 60% alcohol 0.6-2 ml.[2] 0.06-0.3 ml.[1] 0.5-1.5 ml.[4]
Solid extract (alc.) 0.3-0.5 g.[4]
Tincture  1:5 in 60% alcohol 2-8 ml.[2,3,4] 0.3-2 ml.[1]
Local  The powder can be used as snuff.[1,2]
Emetic dose Rhizome 1-2 g. Liquid extract 1-2 ml. Tincture 2-8ml.[1,2]

ORIGIN: Canada and USA.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally
Constituents
Isoquinoline alkaloids- sanguinarine[6] (about 1%), protopine,[6] chelerythrine,[6] sanguidaridine, oxysanguinaridine, sanguilutine, berberine, coptisine, chelilutine, chelirubine, protopine, sanguidimerine, sanguirubine, a- and b- allocryptopine,[1] a- and b-homochelidonine.[6] A red resin.[1,2,6]
Starch.[6]
Sanguinarine is an expectorant, antimicrobial, and has local anaesthetic properties.[2]
A dentifrice containing the extract is reported to improve sensitive teeth.[3,4]
Both sanguinarine and chelerythrine have been shown to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation and intercalate with DNA,[5] possibly helping to explain their well known anti-bacterial and antiviral reactions.[2]
References