Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: My sister took too high a dose of bloodroot. What will that do to her?
QUESTION:
I have talked with my sister and she took something called Tannelbit.
She took 3 capsules 3 times a day. She found out that she took way over the
recommended dose of bloodroot. The "nurse" that had prescribed it for her
gave her the wrong dosage. She is now able to eat but is still experiencing
much burning in her throat and passages. Her hands swell when she is around any
type of chemicals such as perfume or hairspray or exhaust fumes. They
also turn bright red. The other thing she took was UVIURSI 1/2 teas 3x/day
for 6 weeks. I have no idea what that may be.
ANSWER:
The burning sensation in mucous membranes is typical of bloodroot overdose, but
the sensitization to odors is not. She is lucky she didn't kill herself off with
this stuff, people have been killed ODing on on bloodroot. The main constituent
among the bloodroot alkaloids (sanguinarine)has some narcotic properties, but can
cause glaucoma at high doses, so she should have her eyes checked, too. There are
many other active alkaloids in bloodroot, too. Many, like sanguinarine, can
affect the heart and respiratory system.
Uva ursi is made from manzanita bushes in California but the active ingredient is
found in other species of plants, too. It is a diuretic and has tannin-like
properties. It has been used for centuries to cure urinary tract infections and
I'll bet it works, too. It is cleared through the kidneys, yet still has some
gallotannin anti-bacterial properties. This is very commonly found in women's
health herbal guides. One would not want to take this longer than a week or so,
because it could damage what it was cleansing, if you get my drift.