Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos & Dicentra spp.) plants produce an incredible drooping inflorescence with a string of heart-like flowers that appear to be split open with a drop of blood!
They all used to be part of the Dicentra genus, but now the genus is split into several.
They are native to eastern Asia and North America, but it is easy to imagine how they have spread as many of the species are popular as ornamentals.
Dicentra formosa (the Western Bleeding Heart) grows in moist forestlands from California to British Colombia and produces pink, purple, yellow or cream flowers.
Whereas, D. canadensis is found along the eastern North America and has white flowers.
Another Bleeding Heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, is found in Siberia, China, Korea and Japan, and produces pink and white flowers.
Its no surprise that wiith a flower this spectactuar, there is much symbolism that has followed it through the centuries—mainly, that of representing deep emotions and undying love.
Traditional medicinal uses for these plants exist, but much caution is required, as they contain the isoquinoline-like alkaloids which produce toxicity and skin irritation.
In Asian traditional medicine, L. spectabilis has been used for moving blood, “expelling pathogenic wind and subduing carbuncles.”
Dicentra formosa has been used by the Native American Skagit and later by the Eclectic physicians.
Uses included as a narcotic, for anxiety, anthelmintic, topical analgesic (toothache, nerve pain), cancer and for hair growth.
In drop doses, Bleeding Heart was used for pain topically and internally.
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
The Bleeding Heart to Ease Pain. 💓
