Zi Cao, Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) Dried Root Liquid Extract — External Use Only

Zi Cao, Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) Dried Root Liquid Extract — External Use Only

For external use only. Not for internal use. This extract is supplied for topical and cosmetic formulation work — oils, balms, salves, soaps and compresses. Do not swallow.

A liquid extract of dried Lithospermum erythrorhizon root — the purple-red "zi cao" root of East Asian tradition — prepared for topical and cosmetic formulation work.

What you get

• One botanical, named to species. Only Lithospermum erythrorhizon root. Nothing blended in.
• The colour is the point. The root bark is stained by shikonin and its derivatives, and the extract carries that deep violet-red straight into an oil, balm or soap base.
• Cold maceration, never heated. The material steeps at room temperature rather than being boiled or spray-dried.
• Nothing else added. No synthetic dyes, preservatives or fragrance.
• Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.
• Sizes from 2 fl oz to 2 gallons, including multi-packs — the same extract whether you are testing a formula or running a batch.

About the plant

Gromwell is a bristly perennial of the borage family (Boraginaceae), native to China, Korea and Japan, carrying small white funnel-shaped flowers above rough, lance-shaped leaves. What matters is underground: a thick root whose bark is stained an intense purple-red by shikonin, a naphthoquinone pigment. That colour made it a dye plant long before anything else — the deep purple of Nara-period Japanese court robes came from murasaki, this same root, and the Chinese name zi cao simply means "purple grass". In East Asian practice the root has always been something worked into oils and ointments rather than taken by mouth.

Suggested use

For external use in cosmetic and topical preparations. Blend into a carrier oil, balm, salve, cream or soap base at the rate your formulation calls for. Patch-test on a small area of intact skin and wait 24 hours before wider use.

Warnings

For external use only. Do not take internally. Gromwell root contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to the liver when swallowed. Not for use on broken skin or open wounds. Not for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, including topically. Will permanently stain skin, cloth and work surfaces.

Keep out of reach of children. Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, including on the skin. Not for use on broken skin, open wounds or damaged skin. Discontinue use if irritation, redness or a rash develops. Do not use if the tamper seal is broken or missing. Store tightly capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Actual packaging may carry different or additional information; always read the label before use.