Dragon's Blood
Croton lechleri
Sangre de drago, the blood-red sap of an Amazon tree, traditionally used to heal wounds. A drug purified from it, crofelemer, is an approved medicine for some types of diarrhea.
Safety at a glance
- PregnancyNothing recorded
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- ToxicityNothing recorded
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Dragon's Blood?
- Plant family
- Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family
- Parts used
- The red latex (sap) that flows from cuts in the bark
- Where it grows
- The Amazon rainforest of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil
- Genus
- Croton
- Species
- lechleri
Regional names
Sangre de Drago, Sangre de Grado
Traditionally used for
- Wounds
- Diarrhea
Traditionally described as
- Helps wounds heal (in animal studies)
- May help reduce inflammation
Natural compounds
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
The red sap is widely used in Amazonian traditional medicine, especially to help wounds heal.[1]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
A review of 33 studies found the sap is mostly made of proanthocyanidins. In lab and animal studies it helped wounds heal, may help reduce inflammation, slowed tumors and had effects on the gut.[1]Study
Research in people
Crofelemer, a compound purified from the sap, is an approved medicine for diarrhea not caused by infection in people with HIV taking antiretroviral drugs.[2]Study
In a trial, 240 women with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea took crofelemer (125 mg twice a day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. It didn't increase the number of pain-free days, the main goal. In a later analysis, more women on crofelemer had their abdominal pain improve. Side effects were similar to placebo.[3]Study
Technical detail: FDA abdominal pain monthly responders over 3 months 54.2% vs 42.5%, P = 0.037 (post hoc).
In short
Few safety studies of the raw sap exist.
Sources
- [1] A Review on Phytochemistry and Recent Pharmacology of Dragon's Blood (Croton lechleri), a Multifunctional Ethnomedicinal Resource from the Amazon Forest · DOI: 10.1055/a-2551-5681Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Effects of orally administered crofelemer on the incidence and severity of neratinib-induced diarrhea in female dogs · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282769Peer-reviewed study
- [3] Randomized Clinical Trial: Crofelemer Treatment in Women With Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome · DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000110Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.