Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grado): Traditional Uses of Croton lechleri

These are traditional and documented uses drawn from cultural practice and published research. They are not medical advice — consult a qualified healthcare professional before using dragon's blood for any health purpose.

Dragon's blood, or sangre de grado, is the deep-red resin that flows from the wounded bark of Croton lechleri, a fast-growing tree of the western Amazon. For generations, Indigenous peoples have used the sap as a protective "liquid bandage" over minor cuts and scrapes, as a traditional digestive tonic, and as a ceremonial incense. This guide covers what dragon's blood is, how it is harvested, its traditional uses, and what science actually shows.

What Is Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grado)?

Dragon's blood is a plant resin — a bright blood-red latex that seeps from the bark of Croton lechleri Müll.Arg., a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to the western Amazon of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.¹ The resin is gathered the traditional way — by scoring or wounding the bark so the sap runs — and collected by hand.

Its Spanish names, sangre de grado and sangre de drago ("blood of the dragon"), reflect both its vivid colour and the long reverence Amazonian peoples have held for it. Traditionally it has been valued as a topical protective film for the skin, as a digestive remedy, and as a ceremonial incense.

Traditional Uses of Dragon's Blood

In Amazonian folk tradition, dragon's blood has been put to several everyday uses. These are traditional and cultural practices — descriptions of how people have used the resin, not medical directions or claims that it treats any condition.

• Skin & first aid. Dabbed onto minor cuts, scrapes and insect bites, the sap dries into a thin protective film — a traditional "liquid bandage" or "second skin" that covers the area while it heals naturally. It is a folk practice, not a substitute for proper wound care.
• Digestive tradition. Taken in small amounts, dragon's blood has a long history as a traditional remedy for digestive comfort — a use that, interestingly, connects to the modern science below.
• Ceremony & incense. The dried resin is burned as an incense in cleansing and ceremonial practice, and used to scent a space (see the incense section below).

A Traditional Dragon's Blood Skincare Cream

Dragon's blood has long been blended into folk skincare — creams, balms and salves. If you'd like to make a traditional blend at home, a simple one combines 100 g of a plain natural skin cream with 30 drops of dragon's blood and 20 drops of frankincense essential oil, stirred together well.

This is a traditional cosmetic preparation, offered for interest — not a treatment for wrinkles, ageing, or any skin condition. Essential oils and plant resins can irritate sensitive skin, so patch-test on a small area first and avoid broken skin or the eye area.

What Does the Science Say About Croton lechleri?

Of all the plants in this collection, Croton lechleri has one of the strongest scientific footnotes: a purified component of its latex became an approved medicine. Crofelemer — sold as Mytesi (originally Fulyzaq) — is an FDA-approved antidiarrheal drug that the label states is derived from the red latex of Croton lechleri.² It is approved specifically to relieve non-infectious diarrhoea in adults with HIV who are taking antiretroviral therapy, and it works by calming the chloride channels that drive fluid loss in the gut.^3,4

An important distinction: it is the purified proanthocyanidin (crofelemer) that is the licensed drug — not the raw resin. The traditional resin is not a medicine, and this approval does not mean dragon's blood sap treats diarrhoea or any other condition. But it does show that real, active chemistry sits inside the plant.

For the skin, laboratory and animal research has looked at the sap's wound-healing compounds — chiefly the alkaloid taspine and the lignan dimethylcedrusine. In rats, the crude sap supported fibroblast activity and collagen formation, and — tellingly — the whole sap worked better than its isolated compounds.^5,6 Separately, compounds in the latex show antioxidant activity in test-tube studies.⁷ None of this wound-healing work has been confirmed in human trials.

It's just as important to be honest about the limits. Independent reviews of the evidence note that an early topical trial of dragon's blood was no better than a placebo for herpes sores, and that laboratory cancer studies are mixed — one even increased the viability of leukaemia cells.^8,9 There is no good human evidence that dragon's blood treats cancer, diabetes, gum disease, or infections, and much of the "dragon's blood" research online actually concerns the unrelated Dracaena and Daemonorops trees, not Croton lechleri. In short: strong evidence for one purified drug, promising early laboratory work for wound healing and antioxidants, and no proof of the broader medical claims often made for it.

Dragon's Blood Incense

Beyond its topical and traditional uses, dragon's blood is a much-loved incense. When burned, the resin releases a rich, warm, earthy fragrance that scents a room and masks unwanted odours. In many traditions its smoke is associated with cleansing, protection and setting a calm, focused atmosphere — which is why it is a popular companion to meditation and ceremony. As with any incense, burn it in a well-ventilated space.

Sourcing: Not All Dragon's Blood Is Equal

Safety Notes

Dragon's blood has a long record of traditional use, but a few sensible cautions apply:

• For skin use, patch-test first and keep it away from the eyes and broken or deeply wounded skin. It is not a substitute for medical care — see a professional for serious wounds, burns or infections.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid dragon's blood, as there is no established safety data for these periods. Do not apply it where an infant could ingest it.
• The traditional raw resin is not a licensed medicine. Use it in moderation, and speak with a healthcare provider before taking any botanical internally, especially if you have a health condition, take medication, or have persistent digestive symptoms.

Dragon's Blood — Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading

The references below are the botanical, regulatory and peer-reviewed sources behind the science section. They concern Croton lechleri specifically; most describe purified compounds or laboratory/animal work, not the raw resin as a medical treatment.

1. Plants of the World Online (POWO), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Croton lechleri Müll.Arg. (accepted name; family Euphorbiaceae; native to western South America). powo.science.kew.org.
2. U.S. Food & Drug Administration — MYTESI (crofelemer) prescribing information. Label states crofelemer is derived from the red latex of Croton lechleri; approved for symptomatic relief of non-infectious diarrhoea in adults with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. accessdata.fda.gov.
3. Tradtrantip L, Namkung W, Verkman AS (2010). Crofelemer, an antisecretory antidiarrheal proanthocyanidin oligomer extracted from Croton lechleri, targets two distinct intestinal chloride channels. Molecular Pharmacology 77(1):69–78. doi:10.1124/mol.109.061051. (In vitro; mechanism.)
4. Macarthur RD, et al. (2013). Efficacy and safety of crofelemer for non-infectious diarrhea in HIV-seropositive individuals (ADVENT trial). HIV Clinical Trials 14(6):261–273. doi:10.1310/hct1406-261. (Human RCT.)
5. Pieters L, et al. (1995). In vivo wound healing activity of dragon's blood (Croton spp.), a traditional South American drug, and its constituents. Phytomedicine 2(1):17–22. doi:10.1016/S0944-7113(11)80043-7. (Animal; crude sap outperformed isolated compounds.)
6. Vaisberg AJ, et al. (1989). Taspine is the cicatrizant principle in sangre de grado extracted from Croton lechleri. PMID 2748730. (Identifies taspine as the wound-healing compound; animal/in-vitro.)
7. De Marino S, et al. (2008). Identification of minor secondary metabolites from the latex of Croton lechleri and evaluation of their antioxidant activity. Molecules 13(6):1219–1229. doi:10.3390/molecules13061219. (In vitro antioxidant.)
8. Jones K (2003). Review of sangre de drago (Croton lechleri) — a South American tree sap in the treatment of diarrhea, inflammation, insect bites, viral infections, and wounds. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9(6):877–896. doi:10.1089/107555303771952235. (Narrative review of traditional uses and early research.)
9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — "About Herbs: Croton lechleri." Notes wound-healing evidence is animal-only, a topical trial was no better than placebo for herpes lesions, and laboratory anticancer results are mixed (including increased leukaemic-cell viability in one study). mskcc.org.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Content is provided for educational and cultural purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.