Unlike moles, which are congenital, warts are cutaneous elevations caused by the papillomavirus (HPV). In and of themselves, they are largely harmless, though they can be irritating, depending on location, or even unsightly. This explains most people's desire to remove them. Conventional treatments include laser therapy, surgery, podophyllin, and recombinant interferon alfa-2a. Amazingly, their success often does not compare with alternative approaches. Native American Indians used bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis) with considerable success to treat warts. Because it is cheap and unpatentable, modern medicine has thrown bloodroot to the wayside. Forward thinking physicians, such as world famous doctor, Dr. Andrew Weil, are bringing it back into focus. (Dr. Weil recommends Alpha Omega as a source for bloodroot products.)