Pharmacology
Scientific name: Croton lechleri
Common names: Sangre de grado (Peruvian Spanish) Sangre de drago (Ecuadorian Spanish)
The dragon’s blood latex contains an alkaloid called “taspine” which accelerates healing of wounds, lacerations and abrasions. The resin also has anti-tumor alkaloids like pyridine, aporphine, indole, quinoline, tropanes, and unsaturated fatty acids, anthraquinones and triterpenes.
Since Incan times it has been used for treatment of diarrhea, wounds, tumors, stomach ulcers, herpes infection, the itching, pain and swelling of insect bites, and other conditions. Clinical studies of Sangre de grado products have reported positive results in the treatment of traveler’s and watery diarrhea and the symptoms of insect bites.
Dragon´s blood is one of the most used at the grassroots level in the humid tropics of Central and South America. The first written references date back from the seventeenth century when the Spanish naturalist and explorer P. Bernabé Cobo “discovered” the healing properties of this latex, although these were already widely known by indigenous tribes of Peru and Ecuador.
Human health benefits
The sap can be applied directly to the skin or the extract from the sap known as SP-303 can be ingested as a pill.
From ancient times, Sangre has been used by Andean women for general purpose douching before and after childbirth. Reportedly It made the vaginal lining impervious to bacteria and yeast.
Sangre is known to be traditionally used for dealing with inflamed or infected gums, and for removing tartar from teeth.
Sangre de grado has been used since the time of the Incas for intestinal and stomach ulcers and as a antidiarrheal
Registered by FDA in 2013 has been approved (Crofelemer®) for use in treating non-infectious diarrhea in HIV cases.
From Incan times it is reportedly still used to treat upper respiratory infections.
Its latex has been shown to be helpful for healing wounds by forming a protective skin barrier, and it also reduces stinging, itching and pain.
AVAILABILITY
Elemento Foods imports and supplies only in bulk and in fresh powder form. The quantity for pre-order is either 1 kg or 10kg and as no stock is held is only available from import when consolidated with a general shipment from Peru.
SHELF LIFE
2 YEARS
| Energy | 268 Kcal , 1121 kj |
| Carbohydrates | 66.3 g |
| Proteins | 3.2 g |
| Water | 16 g |
| Vitamin A | 306 µg(34%) |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.35 mg (27%) |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.81 mg (121%) |
| Vitamin B3 | 6.85 mg (46%) |
| Calcium | 2237 mg(224%) |
| Iron | 22.4 mg(179%) |
| Potassium | 269 mg(6%) |
A salute to the Incas
Disclaimer
TLTurner website quotes anecdotal information on plant products that historically have been used by native peoples of the Andean region for nutrition and health reasons. Thus, any such information shown on this web site is not a recommendation for their use or claim for any benefit.
Elemento Foods Pty Ltd
