A Review of Topical Corrosive Black Salve

Abstract

Black salve is a compound derived from various inert ingredients, but it can be transformed into a corrosive ointment by the addition of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) or zinc chloride. Black salve products have been advertised as a natural remedy for many ailments, ranging from bee stings to skin cancer. This article reviews the current literature surrounding this compound, which in its corrosive form can be dangerous for use without medical supervision. Patients should be educated about the lack of objective evidence supporting the clinical efficacy of black salve as a skin cancer treatment, as well as the possible cosmetic defects resulting from tissue necrosis secondary to the effects of bloodroot and zinc chloride.

Black salve composition: An evaluation of the potential for normal tissue toxicity and treatment failure from black salve products

“…toxicities and treatment failures (Affleck and Varma, 2007;Bickle and Bennett, 2008;Brown et al, 2001;Eastman et al, 2014;Hou and Brewer, 2015;Jellinek and Maloney, 2005;Leecy et al, 2013;Ma et al, 2012;Osswald et al, 2005;Saltzberg et al, 2009;Schlichte et al, 2014) that in two cases resulted in patient death from metastatic basal cell carcinoma (Laub DR 2008) and metastatic melanoma (Sivyer and Rosendahl, 2014), this controversial, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) continues to be poorly regulated by government agencies.…”

Sanguinaria canadensis: Traditional Medicine, Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activities and Current Uses

“…Mouth washes containing bloodroot alkaloids were in clinical use but subsequently found to induce leukoplakia and withdrawn from sale [ 17 ]. As a self-administered skin cancer cure, topical bloodroot therapies known as black salve have been associated with toxicity [ 18 ] and therapeutic failures [ 19 ].…”

Black salve in a nutshell

“…It is produced in a variety of formulations; most formulations contain two core ingredients: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and zinc chloride. 1 Black salve causes skin tissue destruction, resulting in the formation of an eschar of necrotic tissue that eventually sloughs away.…”