Dragon’s blood – what is it for, benefits and contraindications!
Dragon’s Blood – What is it for, Benefits and Contraindications ! In addition, Dragon’s Blood is rich in antioxidant compounds essential to health.
Do you have any idea what Dragon’s Blood is ? I’m not talking about the blood of a mythical creature, but rather a red resin from a tree known to heal wounds , stop bleeding, and can even improve some gastrointestinal health issues, such as ulcers .
With scientifically proven abilities to decrease inflammation and kill viruses, Dragon’s Blood is a lesser-known natural remedy that has centuries of use.
What is Dragon Blood?
The Spanish explorer and naturalist, P. Bernabe Cobo, found the use of Dragon’s Blood in indigenous tribes throughout Mexico, Peru and Ecuador in the 1600s. To this day, the resin and bark of Croton lechleri (a type of dragon) are used in traditional medicine in South America.
Resin, which is often described as crimson red, was also highly prized in the ancient world as a tincture and a remedy. Today, it is still valued by many people as a remedy. Due to its consistency and color, it is also used as a varnish for instruments such as violins.
Due to habitat loss, some dragon species are currently listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
While Dragon’s Blood is used on its own as a natural remedy, it is also an ingredient in some pharmaceuticals and may continue to be added in future formulations. Thaspine, a component of Dragon’s Blood from the Croton lechleri species, has been evaluated for use in the treatment of cancer .
What is Dragon’s Blood for?
Dragon ‘s Blood is a red plant resin “recognized since antiquity for its many medicinal properties and uses”. What is the source of this resin?
Dragon ‘s Blood comes from the fruit of several palm trees of the Daemonorops, Dracaena, Croton and Pterocarpus genera.
This “blood” consists of a natural resin, which is an organic substance formed from plant secretions. For a plant, resins play a protective role against defenders and pathogens.
Dragon trees, especially the Dracaena Draco dragon from the Canary Islands, can be over 18 meters tall and over 6 meters wide. Other tree varieties that contain Blood of the Dragon include Croton Draco from Mexico and Croton lechleri from Peru and Ecuador.
Dragon ‘s Blood is a substance that is often used in traditional Chinese medicine. The main chemical components of Dragon’s Blood are flavonoids , phenols, steroids and terpenoids.
According to some institutions, commercially available Dragon’s Blood contains resin from four different species of trees and has been used in China to treat chronic colitis and to increase blood circulation , so as to improve blood stasis, severe injuries and ache.
Health Benefits of Dragon’s Blood :
Due to its high content of antioxidant compounds , this resin can bring many health benefits, check out:
Benefits of Dragon’s Blood to Heal Wounds:
When it comes to Dragon’s Blood for skin health , some research has shown that this herbal remedy can speed up wound healing quickly!
A placebo-controlled clinical study looked at the effects of Blood of the Dragon on wounds in 60 human patients, aged between 14 and 65 years. Members of one group used Dragon’s Blood resin on their wounds while the other group used a placebo cream.
The researchers studied the subjects’ wounds on test days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 20 to assess the healing process and measure the surface area of the wound . What did they find?
Dragon’s Blood resin significantly improved the healing process, which was noticed on the third day of testing. This, according to the researchers, may be due to a shortening of the inflammation process.
The researchers believe that the presence of phenolic compounds such as proanthocyanidins and catechins, as well as the alkaloid taspoine, are the main components that make this plant resin capable of improving wound healing .
Benefits of Dragon’s Blood for Containing Antibacterial Properties:
An interesting study conducted several years ago examined the possibility of Dragon’s Blood as a safe food preservative. As you probably know, there are many questionable additives used to keep food products on the shelves for too long.
This in vitro study analyzed the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Blood of the Dragon resin obtained from the dragon tree, more formally known as Dracaena cinnabari.
The researchers tested three saps of Dragon’s Blood for their ability to kill a variety of foodborne pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis.
The study found that the CH2Cl2 extract “exhibited good inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal food pathogens.” In general, this resin may in fact be a potential food preservative.
Benefits of Dragon’s Blood for Containing Anti-diarrheal Properties:
Multiple studies have looked at Dragon’s Blood’s ability to improve a very common gastrointestinal problem: diarrhea .
An animal study published in a journal noted that red resin was able to improve diarrhea (caused by castor oil ) in animals. Resin significantly inhibited small intestinal transit and appears to have the potential to control some cases of diarrhea.
A standardized Dragon’s Blood resin product (SP-303) is not currently available, but it has been studied for the treatment of diarrhea at doses of 125 to 500 milligrams per day and the results have been quite interesting.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 184 US subjects who acquired diarrhea in Jamaica or Mexico.
These patients were treated with 125, 250, or 500 milligrams of SP-303 or a combined placebo four times a day for two days. Study subjects were required to track their symptoms daily and were consulted each day for three days. Overall, the study found that SP-303 was effective in decreasing the duration of travelers’ diarrhea by 21%.
Benefits of Dragon’s Blood Against Ulcer :
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences isolated 22 compounds from Dracaena cochinchinensis, one of several sources of the red resin known as Dragon’s Blood .
Of the 22, they found that two were particularly effective at killing Helicobacter pylori (also known as H. pylori), which is the bacterium known to cause peptic ulcers.
One of the researchers pointed out that Dragon’s Blood should be used in much higher concentrations than the antibiotics commonly prescribed by a doctor to treat peptic ulcers.
Benefits of Dragon’s Blood for Having Anti-Aging Properties:
Did you know that Dragon’s Blood resin is really beneficial for skin health ? It is true!
Many beauty lines (both natural and conventional) have already added Dragon’s Blood in their formulations due to its anti- aging , anti-inflammatory , protective and rejuvenating effects.
Dragon ‘s Blood seems to be an especially popular choice for skin that is compromised with sun exposure, heavy exfoliation, or generally skin that needs relief from inflammation.
How to Use Dragon’s Blood:
This resin is available as a supplement in several forms, including tincture and capsules. As always, it is important to buy high quality products from reputable companies.
There is currently no established dose range for Blood of the Dragon . An appropriate dose of this sap depends on several factors, including the age and health of the user.
Always read product labels carefully and consult a healthcare professional if you have any questions.
Dragon’s Blood Side Effects and Contraindications:
Dragon ‘s Blood appears to be safe for most adults when taken by mouth. However, some say the use of this resin on the skin is still unclear.
It is best to avoid Dragon’s Blood if you are pregnant or breastfeeding , because the safe dose of this resin has not yet been determined for these women.
Possible interactions are also unclear, so always speak to your doctor before taking Dragon’s Blood if you are taking other medications or have any health concerns.
Final Thoughts on Dragon’s Blood:
Dragon ‘s Blood is a red resin that can come from a number of different trees, often referred to as the dragon tree.
This resin has been used medicinally for centuries and continues to be used in traditional medicine – including Chinese medicine – to this day.
Studies demonstrate the ability of Blood of the Dragon to help with a variety of health problems in humans, including wound healing , diarrhea , and ulcers .
This red resin is also being studied for its ability as a natural food preservative and even as an anti-cancer treatment.
Skin care companies are increasingly including Blood of the Dragon in products designed for anti-inflammatory, anti- aging , and skin-soothing results.