Bloodroot Side Effects and Warnings

Safety Issues

Oral bloodroot appears to be relatively safe and nontoxic. ¹ However, in large doses, it causes nausea and vomiting, and even at lower dosages it has been reported to cause peculiar side effects in some people, such as tunnel vision and pain in the feet. For this reason, many herbalists recommend that it be used only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Topical applications of bloodroot can cause severe burns if used too vigorously and for too long a time. Despite some reassuring evidence from animal studies, ² there are still theoretical concerns that bloodroot could be harmful during pregnancy. ³ Safety in young children, nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has also not been established.