Bleeding-heart contains an alkaloid that, when ingested at high enough concentrations, can cause liver damage and seizures in people and animals. The most common victims are small dogs, as they only need to eat a small amount to experience the toxic effects. Humans should never ingest the plant. Care should be taken when handling, as contact with bleeding-heart can lead to skin irritation or rashes. For this reason, be sure to use gardening gloves when working with bleeding-heart plants.