Red Root

Ceanothus americanus

Other Names : Ceanothus spp., Ceanothus americanus, Ceanothus azureus, Ceanothus coeruleus, Ceanothus herbaceus, Ceanothus ovalis, Ceanothus reclinatus, Ceanothus azureus, Redroot, New Jersey tea, Wild snowball, Redshank, Mountain Lilac, Buckbrush, Snow Brush, and Desert Buckthorn.
California native shrub with over thirty different species and hybrids found locally, Ceanothus is found mostly in the North American west, but also in the mid-west and northeast. The most widely used Ceonothus in commerce is the east coast Ceonothus americanus, but western US herbalists have found that the local species work just as well.
parts used: root, leaf (less common)
See also : Ceanothus (Homeopathy)

Special Precautions of Red Root

• Can be irritating in higher doses; use carefully if undergoing medical treatment for any disease.
• CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY . Limited research for pregnancy and lactation, so not recommended.
• DO NOT USE in people with coagulation disorders.
• May also lower blood pressure – so caution for people with already lowered BP
• AVOID USING WITH THESE PHARMACEUTICALS: coagulants or anti-coagulants.

Constituents

• Betulin, Betulinic acid (triterpenes), Bacteriohopanetrol
• Ceanothic acid, Ceanothenic acid, Ceanothine (alkaloid), Ceanothamine
• Americane
• Integerressine, Integerreine, Integerrine
• Methyl salicylate
• Flavonoids, flavonoids glycosides, flavonoids, dihydroflavonols
• High amount of tannins
• Iron, protein, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium
• Nitrogen
• The leaves are said to contain tannin, a soft resin, a bitter extractive, a greenish coloring matter almost identical in color and taste with green tea, gum, a volatile substance, lignin, and a principle called ceanothine, but which does not appear to exert as much therapeutical value as the infusion or fluid extract of the root-bark. 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. Chloroform is its best solvent. Clinch (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1884) found in the leaves a volatile oil.
• The bark contains considerable tannin and ceanothine.
• F. C. Gerlach (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1891) found ceanothus-red, tannin, volatile oil, gallic acid, resin, vegetable wax, fixed oil, starch, saccharose, glucose, mucilage, albuminoids, calcium oxalate, and the alkaloid ceanothine, which he found to resemble caffeine in not forming salts, but differing in not being precipitated with Mayer's reagent (A. P. A. Proc., 1892).

Actions

Astringent, Alterative, Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, expectorant, sedative, antispasmodic, Blood coagulant, Haemostatic, Expectorant, Lymphatic stimulant/tonic, Spleen tonic, Mucus membrane tonic, Hepatic stimulant/tonic, Mild hypotensive and antisyphilitic.

Health Benefits and Uses of Red Root

The Cherokee Indians used the root as a digestive tonic, and the Iroquois made a strong decoction from the astringent leaves to stop diarrhea. They also used the root to improve blood flow and to treat colds. Red Root is one of the herbs that is most remarkable when it comes to dealing with the malfunction of the spleen. This plant is a powerful lymphatic and has a direct affinity with that organ.

• It encourages the body to get rid of catabolic waste buildup and helps to break up tumors and non-fibrous cysts in the body.
• It stimulates the lymph and inter-tissue fluid circulation and is effective on tonsil inflammation, sore throats and enlarged lymph nodes.
• It also appears to improve blood coagulation.
• It’s astringent properties are helpful in stopping menstrual hemorrhage, nose bleeds and capillary ruptures from coughing and vomiting.
• Lyme Disease : Red Root helps to remove dead cells from the lymphatic system. The herb is particularly useful if in any part of the lymphatic system there is swelling, inflammation or infection. Red Root is used both in the treatment of Lyme disease as well as Babesia coinfection. One of the co-infections of Lyme is Bartonella, where you will see swollen spleen, liver and lymph nodes. Red Root is important in that it clears dead cellular tissue from the lymph system.
• Allopathic medicine discovered it in 1835 – used it as a anti-hemorrhagic astringent – to stop bleeding during operations.
• During the Civil War – used to treat ‘Ague Cake’ – swollen spleen associated with malaria and intermittent fever.
• It is used in gonorrhoea, dysentery, asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping-cough, and other pulmonary affections.
• Red Root is an aromatic bitter and slightly warming herb that yields a deep red tincture and is associated with the blood.
• It helps move the blood and lymph more freely throughout their channels, helping with swollen lymph nodes or the ill-effects of sluggish, fatty blood.
• The ability of Red Root to stimulate and support this fluid movement makes it potentially useful in treating hemorrhoids, varicose veins, broken capillaries, breast/ovarian/testicular cysts, heavy menstruation or swollen spleen due to viral infections.
• Many herbalists find that it is used best in formula with other supporting herbs. Because of its astringency it has also been used by Native Americans and early American doctors to stop bleeding.
• Beyond the western lymphatic spleen, Red Root has a special connection with the Spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine - the organ that moves the fluids around the body and plays an essential role in digestive metabolism by drawing the nourishment from digesting food into the body. Thus Red Root can address stagnant, irritated damp digestion that comes with cold, dry symptoms. Matthew Wood talks about the Greek connection of spleen with 'melancholia' - similar to TCM spleen ideas that excessive thought and introspection can bring about a 'Spleen' imbalance marked by sluggishness of direction, purpose and creative flow. He recommends smaller more energetic doses for this. ceanothus has been found to be a useful gastric, hepatic, and splenic stimulant, and it is in splenic troubles that its action is most favorable. Scudder (Spec. Med.), states that it is indicated by splenic enlargement, with sallow, doughy skin, and expressionless face. Webster gives as indications, deep-seated splenic pain, though no enlargement be detectable, and for the pain of splenic hypertrophy, as well as for sympathetic, painful conditions depending upon splenic wrong. Its action is compared to that of carduus marianus, influencing the hepatic, and more so the splenic vessels, overcoming congestion. Hypertrophy of the spleen and splenitis of malarial origin are met with it. The cases of splenitis to which it is specially adapted are not acute, but rather sub-acute, after the active symptoms have passed, and when pressure does not markedly aggravate the pain. It was much used during the Civil War for malarial splenitis.Copious catarrhal profluvia in non-inflammatory conditions are benefited by its astringency.
• Ceanothus reclinatus : Used by the natives in gonorrhoea, syphilis, dysentery, ulceration of the mouth and fauces, and cancer.
• Mouth ulcers/tooth abscess
• Asthma, bronchitis, cough, pharyngitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis
• Blood – red blood cell clumping
• Menorrhagia
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic Congestion
• Diarrhoea
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Mastitis
• Headache – THICK FRONTAL – after fatty meals)
• Liver stagnation
• Lymphatic stagnation
• Splenitis/mild splenomegaly
• Lymphatic congestion – weakness & bogginess
• Swollen glands
• Swollen sore throat
• Swollen prostate
• Oedema
• Bacterial & viral infections
• EBV Glandular fever
• Loss of appetite