Rainforest Research Report
By Christian Drapeau, BSc., MSc.

SANGRE DE DRAGO
Croton Lechleri

Common Names:
Sangre de Drago, Sangre de Grado, Dragon’s Blood, Drago, Sangue de Drago

Part used:
Bark, Resin

Description and Habitat: 
Sangre de Drago (Croton lechleri) is a fast growing tree reaching 60 feet in height found throughout the tropics and the Amazon regions of South America, with the highest quality material originating in the upper jungle of Peru. The distinguishing mark of this tree resides in the fact that when the trunk of the tree is cut or wounded, a dark red sappy resin oozes out as if the tree was bleeding.

Indigenous Traditional Use: 
Sangre de Drago is used extensively by indigenous cultures of the Amazon River basin for its remarkable healing properties. Applied to the skin on abrasions, cuts, scratches, and blisters, Sangre de Drago almost immediately forms a brownish gel over the lesion that seals the wound. Applied on bites and stings it halts the symptoms of pain and itching within minutes, with a subsequent reduction in swelling and redness. Sangre de Drago is reported by indigenous people to foster wound healing at a rate that is superior to natural processes, and it does so with reduced pain, inflammation, and scarring. Indigenous people also take Sangre de Drago orally in a diluted form (e.g. three drops in a beverage two or three times a day) for gastrointestinal disorders, gastritis, gastric ulcer, intestinal infections, colitis and parasites.

Scientific Studies – Mechanism of Action
The rapid coagulation of the blood is due to Sangre de Drago’s ability to co-precipitate with proteins and other components of the blood and underlying tissue. The healing properties of Sangre de Drago have been linked to the presence of a compound called taspine. This was in part discovered by observing that the most effective Sangre de Drago came from the upper jungle of Peru where the sap contains much more taspine than, for example, the less potent Ecuadorian sap. Nevertheless, many scientists believe that the efficacy of Sangre de Drago as a cicatrizant agent is perhaps better explained by the presence of an array of chemicals acting in concert rather than a single chemical. This is well exemplified by the documented benefits of Sangre de Drago on gastric ulcers. Aside from the presence of taspine, the healing effect of Sangre de Drago on gastric ulcers seems to be a combination of the presence of strong anti-bacterial components acting on the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium strongly associated with gastric ulcers and believed to be a causal agent, and anti-inflammatory properties.

A recent scientific study revealed that nearly 90% of dried Sangre de Drago sap was composed of one of the most potent antioxidants, proanthocyanidin, also known as Pycnogenol® and grape seed extract. This strong presence of antioxidant activity may in part explain the effect of Sangre de Drago on colitis and other digestive disorders, by reducing inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. The high concentration of bitter bioflavonoids – proanthocyanidins are bioflavonoids- in Sangre de Drago may explain its action of intestinal parasite. It is also noteworthy that a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company has developed two pharmaceutical drugs that contain antiviral constituents isolated and extracted from the bark and resin of Sangre de Drago.

In conclusion, let’s simply say that the combination of antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and cicatrizant properties makes Sangre de Drago a fascinating yet complex herbal remedy with exceptional healing properties.

The information contained in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you have any health concern, it is recommended that you seek the advise of a certified health practitioner.

Christian Drapeau, BSc., MSc., is a neurophysiologist with over 13 years research experience in the fields of natural foods and nutrition. He is the former Chief Scientist at Cell Tech where he directed research on Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, and is currently Chief Scientist for Desert Lake Technologies, Oregon. Mr. Drapeau received a BSc. in Neurophysiology from McGill University, Montreal, and a MSc. from the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal.

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See also:
- Amazon Herb formulas containing Sangre de Drago:
Sangre de Drago, Fiberzon™, Gravizon™, Illumination™