Bleeding Heart vs Ximenia Americana

East Asian ornamental plant used in TCM for blood stasis, pain, and wound healing. The Western species Dicentra canadensis has been used by Native Americans for similar conditions.

Small thorny tree found in tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas used in traditional medicine across multiple regions for wound healing, pain, and infections.

bicuculline, adlumidine, protopine, isocorydine

prunasin, ximenynic acid, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids

Blood stasis and pain treatment in TCM, Wound healing, Skin conditions topically, Native American analgesic use

wound healing, skin infections, joint pain, fever, diarrhea

Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory

wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic

Small doses only: 1-2ml tincture; toxic in overdose

Bark decoction 200ml 2x daily or topical leaf paste

Pregnancy, Liver disease, High doses toxic — confusion and seizures

pregnancy, children under 6, prunasin toxicity with large doses

Confusion, Seizures at high doses, GI upset

nausea, cyanide toxicity with very large doses