Evidence supporting the use of: Bleeding Heart
For the health condition: Ulcerations (external)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spp.), particularly Dicentra formosa, has a history of use in traditional herbal medicine by Native American tribes and some Western herbalists. In the context of external ulcerations, traditional accounts suggest that poultices or topical preparations made from the plant’s roots or leaves were applied to wounds, sores, and ulcerated skin to promote healing and reduce inflammation. These uses are based on ethnobotanical records and oral traditions rather than controlled scientific studies. There is little documentation on the precise mechanisms of action, but it is believed that some alkaloids present in Bleeding Heart may have mild analgesic or anti-inflammatory properties, which could theoretically aid in soothing ulcerated tissue. However, no modern clinical trials or robust pharmacological investigations have validated these uses, and the plant contains potentially toxic compounds that warrant caution. Overall, while there is traditional precedent for using Bleeding Heart externally for ulcerations, the evidence is limited to historical documentation and anecdote, with no substantial scientific validation available.
Other ingredients used for Ulcerations (external)
aloe verabisabolol
dyer’s woad root
Japanese sophora
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
marshmallow
protease
vitamin C
zinc
rubia cordifolia
yarrow
moss
amber
birch
sheep's sorrel
assam indigo
camphor oil
stillingia
wood betony
white oak
melaleuca alternifolia
arnica
Ardisia
acacia
Agrimony
Antirrhinum majus
Achyranthes
Abrus
Alchornea
Alchemilla
Ajuga
Aucubin
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Allantoin
Alkanet
Ampelopsis
Acemannan
Asarabacca
Abuta
Alkanna
Arisaema
Butter
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bleeding Heart
Black-Eyed Susan
Bloodroot
Benzoin
Borate
Bletilla
Boxwood
Comfrey
Celandine
Cranesbill
Cedrus libani
Chiococca alba
Cocklebur
Dragon's Blood
Dianthrone
Erigeron
English Elm
European Field Elm
Echinodorus
Elaeagnus glabra
Oak
Other health conditions supported by Bleeding Heart
Bruises (healing)Cuts
Pain (general remedies for)
Scratches and Abrasions
Ulcerations (external)
Wounds and Sores