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Dragon’s Blood

Botanical Name :Daemomorops draco
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Calamoideae
Tribe:     Calameae
Genus:     Daemonorops
Kingdom: Plantae
Order:     Arecales

Synonyms:  Calamus Draco. Draconis Resina. Sanguis draconis. Dragon’s Blood Palm. Blume.

Common Name: Dragon’s Blood,Blume, Calamus Draco, Draconis Resina, Dragon‘s Blood Palm, Sanguis draconis

Habitat:  Dragon’s Blood is native to Sumatra.

Description:Dragon’s Blood  is a Rattan Palm.The long, slender stems of the genus are flexible, and the older trees develop climbing propensities. The leaves have prickly stalks which often grow into long tails and the bark is provided with many hundreds of flattened spines. The berries are about the size of a cherry, and pointed. When ripe they are covered with a reddish, resinous substance which is separated in several ways, the most satisfactory being by steaming, or by shaking or rubbing in coarse, canvas bags. An inferior kind is obtained by boiling the fruits to obtain a decoction after they have undergone the second process. The product may come to market in beads, joined as if forming a necklace, and covered with leaves (Tear Dragon’s Blood), or in small, round sticks about 18 inches long, packed in leaves and strips of cane. Other varieties are found in irregular lumps, or in a reddish powder. They are known as lump, stick, reed, tear, or saucer Dragon’s Blood……..CLICK & SEE  THE  PICTURES

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The stems of the Daemonorops are harvest for their cores, which is used for everything from canes to furniture. The fruits of certain species, in particular Daemonorops draco, produces a red resin known as “Dragon’s blood”. The seeds of species such as Daemonorops margaritae  are harvested for the production of Buddhist prayer beads.
Polished Daemonorops seeds on a mala

Polysaccharides found in some Daemonorops species are known for their medicinal anticoagulant properties.

Medicinal Uses:
-Part Used:--The resinous exudation of the fruits.
Chemical Constituents: Several analyses of Dragon’s Blood have been made with the following results:

(1) 50 to 70 per cent resinous compound of benzoic and benzoyl-acetic acid, with dracoresinotannol, and also dracon alban and dracoresene.

(2) 56.8 per cent of red resin compounded of the first three mentioned above, 2.5 per cent of the white, amorphous dracoalban, 13.58 of the yellow, resinous dracoresene, 18.4 vegetable debris, and 8.3 per cent. ash.

(3) 90.7 per cent of red resin, draconin, 2.0 of fixed oil, 3.0 of benzoic acid, 1.6 of calcium oxalate, and 3.7 of calcium phosphate.

(4) 2.5 per cent of draco-alban, 13.58 of draco resen, 56.86 of draco resin, benzoic dracoresinotannol ester and benzoylaceticdracoresinotannol ester, with 18.4 of insoluble substances.

Dragon’s Blood is not acted upon by water, but most of it is soluble in alcohol. It fuses by heat. The solution will stain marble a deep red, penetrating in proportion to the heat of the stone.

Dragon’s Blood   is a stringent, and regarded as effective for the treatment of dysentery.  It is applied externally as a wash or liniment to stop bleeding and promote healing.  Internally it is used for menstrual irregularities, chest pains, post-partum bleeding and traumatic injuries.  Doses of 10 to 30 grains were formerly given as an astringent in diarrhea, etc., but officially it is never at present used internally, being regarded as inert.  The following treatment is said to have cured cases of severe syphilis. Mix 2 drachms of Dragon’s Blood, 2 drachms of colocynth, 1/2  oz. of gamboge in a mortar, and add 3 gills of boiling water. Stir for an hour, while keeping hot. Allow to cool, and add while stirring a mixture of 2 oz. each of sweet spirits of nitre and copaiba balsam. Dragon’s Blood is not acted upon by water, but most of it is soluble in alcohol. It fuses by heat. The solution will stain marble a deep red, penetrating in proportion to the heat of the stone.

The following treatment is said to have cured cases of severe syphilis. Mix 2 drachms of Dragon’s Blood, 2 drachms of colocynth, 1/2 oz. of gamboge in a mortar, and add 3 gills of boiling water. Stir for an hour, while keeping hot. Allow to cool, and add while stirring a mixture of 2 OZ. each of sweet spirits of nitre and copaiba balsam.

Other Uses:
It is used as a colouring matter for varnishes, tooth-pastes, tinctures, plasters, for dyeing horn to imitate tortoiseshell, etc. It is very brittle, and breaks with an irregular, resinous fracture, is bright red and glossy inside, and darker red sometimes powdered with crimson, externally. Small, thin pieces are transparent.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/dragon20.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemonorops
http://www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/dragon_blood.htm

http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_DE.htm

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