Sanguisorba, commonly known as burnet, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine systems, particularly in Chinese medicine, where it is referred to as Di Yu. Historically, Sanguisorba species have been used to "cool the blood," stop bleeding, and treat wounds. In the context of "blood poisoning"—a term that often refers to sepsis or systemic infection—Sanguisorba was traditionally applied to conditions involving blood disorders, infections, and hemorrhagic diseases.

However, the historical use of Sanguisorba for "blood poisoning" is based primarily on symptom patterns rather than modern medical understanding of sepsis or bacteremia. Ancient texts describe its use to treat dysentery, bleeding, and inflammatory conditions, which may have included cases of infection, but these descriptions are not directly equivalent to contemporary definitions of blood poisoning.

Scientific validation for the use of Sanguisorba in treating sepsis or systemic infections is minimal. Some laboratory studies have identified mild antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in Sanguisorba extracts, but clinical trials in humans for blood poisoning are lacking. As a result, while Sanguisorba’s use for this condition is rooted in tradition, there is little robust scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in treating blood poisoning as defined today.