Red Root stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas and has a profound effect on the lymph system, (draining wastes); the liver (decreasing the harmful effects of fats); the spleen (reducing chronic enlargement); and the respiratory system (relieving asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, colds, tonsillitis and sinusitis).
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Vitamin Depot Online.com is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
History:
Red Root is a half-hardy shrub that is native to North America. The Ceanothus genus encompasses over fifty species of small trees or shrubs that are distributed throughout North America and as far south as Guatemala. The majority of the species are evergreen, but the eastern species have adapted to cold winters and are deciduous. The shrubby tree has a smooth bark that produces erect branches, bearing alternate, downy leaves and numerous small, ornamental white flowers that bloom in summertime. The flowers are followed by fruits (seed vessels), and the entire plant generally reaches a height of five feet. It can be found in dry woodlands, barrens, open plains or sandy, rocky clearings or hillsides and thrives in well-drained soil in sun. It dislikes alkaline conditions but will tolerate poor, dry soils. The name, Red Root, is derived from the plant's large, red root, which is the medicinal part, and it is dug and partially harvested in late autumn or early spring, when the red color is deepest, and then dried for use in herbal medicines. Red Root is a long, cylindrical, thick, irregularly contorted and branching root, with either a simple or branched head and knotty tubercles. To the taste, Red Root is astringent and bitter, but has no odor (although some claim it is peach-like). In Canada, the root has been occasionally used to dye wool a cinnamon color. The leaves are also astringent and slightly bitter and have been used as a substitute for tea, to which they have a strong resemblance when dried, both in taste and fragrance. Red Root's common name, Jersey Tea, evolved, because the leaves were used as a tea substitute during the American War of Independence. The plant also has a long history of medicinal use. The Cherokee people of North America used it to treat skin cancer and venereal sores. Red Root is a bitter, astringent herb, and some of its constituents include tannins, a soft resin, gum, volatile substance, lignin, a bitter extract, ceanothic-, ceanothetric-, malonic-, orthophosphoric- oxalic-, pyrophosphoric- and succinic acids, as well as a principle called ceanothine.
Beneficial Uses:
Red Root is a bitter, astringent, cleansing herb that has traditionally been used to support the lymph system. It is said to have a profound, stimulating influence on the lymphatic system, helping to drain the lymph glands, and increasing its ability to carry waste tissue away from infected areas. It has been shown to increase transport of nutrients from the blood across the capillary cells to the lymph and generally stimulate fluid drainage from congested areas.
As an astringent, Red Root's tannins act to shrink tissues, and these actions help to reduce abnormal uterine bleeding, nosebleeds, hemorrhoids and diarrhea. It is said to increase blood clotting, prevent secretion of fluids and reduce mild bleeding from broken skin capillaries, which may be of help in cases of varicose veins.
Red Root is thought to reduce liver congestion. Because it stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas, the herb acts to cleanse the liver, decrease the negative effects of fats in the blood and tone blood protein. Red Root is also believed to improve circulation to the liver and reduce an enlarged liver.
As an expectorant, Red Root helps to loosen and expel phlegm from the lungs. It is said to both decrease the thickness, as well as increase the fluidity of mucus in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Because it stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas, it is used to alleviate the discomforts of asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, consumption, colds, tonsillitis, diphtheria, sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract illnesses.
Red Root is said to have a special influence upon the spleen, to which it is a stimulant, and is thought to relieve enlargement of that organ, particularly when caused by "mono" or fever.
Red Root exhibits antispasmodic properties that relax spasms in skeletal muscle or smooth muscle. Further acting as a relaxant, its sedative qualities are thought to help relieve temporary depression.
Red Root is believed to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, and because it contains triterpenes and flavonoids, the herb is said to make the body environment less hospitable to invaders. It has been used for such viral and bacterial conditions as mumps, mononucleosis, rocky mountain fever
and cat scratch fevers. In recent studies, Red Root's ceanothic and ceanothetric acids have demonstrated anti-microbial activity and growth-inhibitory effects against selected oral pathogens, such as S. mutans, Actinomyces viscosus, and P. gingivalis. It has also been used in the treatment of tonsil inflammations and sore throats. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties have made it useful in cases of gonorrhea, gleet ( a urethral discharge, either of mucus or pus, commonly seen in the form of gonorrheal urethritis), leucorrhoea (a whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge) and syphilis (archaic use).
Used externally, Red Root is useful in mouthwashes and gargles to relieve sore throats and tonsillitis.
Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.
Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Red Root without consulting with a health care provider. This herb may interfere with absorption of iron and other minerals and is best when not taken at the same time. Those who take blood-thinning medications should consult their physicians before using Red Root. It is important to note that Red Root is NOT Bloodroot (sometimes also called Redroot), which is an entirely different plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of another species and considered unsafe.
Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, , size "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs of powdered herb material.
- Red Root - Botanical Powder -- Approximately 600 mgs each
