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What people say makes us excited::
The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs By Leslie Taylor, ND ; New Book! ; Available January 30, 2005
page 103:
Hemorrhoids : Sangre de Grado, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, vassourinha, epazote, erva tostao, passionflower, picao preto, chuchuhuasi, artichoke, quinine, yerba mate, nettle
page 407:
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SANGRE DE GRADO "DRAGON'S BLOOD" |
Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Croton
Species: lechleh, salutahs, draco
Common Names: sangre de grado, sangre de drago, dragon's blood, drago, sangue de drago, sangue de agua
Parts Used: bark, resin/sap
TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES
For centuries, the sangre de grado resin has been painted on wounds to stop bleeding, to accelerate healing, and to seal and protect injuries from infection. The sap dries quickly and forms a barrier, much like a "second skin."
• heals wounds
• stops bleeding
• kills bacteria
• kills germs
• kills fungi
• kills viruses
• relieves diarrhea
• reduces inflammation
• relieves itching
• kills cancer cells
• prevents tumor growth
• stops cellular mutations
Resin
Internal: 10-15 drops one to two times daily External: Apply to affected area twice daily
Sangre de grado is a medium- to large-sized tree that grows from 10-20 m high in the upper Amazon region of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Although tall, the trunk is usually less than 30 cm in diameter and is covered by smooth, mottled bark. It has large, heart-shaped, bright green leaves and unique, greenish-white flowers on long stalks. Its Peruvian name, sangre de grado, means "blood of the dragon" (in Spanish). In Ecuador, it's named sangre de drago (which means "dragon's blood" as well). When the trunk of the tree is cut or wounded, a dark red, sappy resin oozes out as if the tree is bleeding—earning this local name. The genus Croton is a large one, with 750 species of trees and shrubs distributed across the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Crotons are rich in active alkaloids, and several species are well-known medicinal plants used as laxatives and tonics.
Sangre de grade's red sap or latex (and also its bark) has a long history of indigenous use in the rainforest and in South America. The earliest written reference dates its use to the 1600s, when Spanish naturalist and explorer P. Bernabe Cobo found that the curative power of the sap was widely known throughout the indigenous tribes of Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. For centuries, the sap has been painted on wounds to staunch bleeding, to accelerate healing, and to seal and protect injuries from infection. The sap dries quickly and forms a barrier, much like a "second skin." It is used externally by indigenous tribes and local people in Peru for wounds, fractures, and hemorrhoids, internally for intestinal and stomach ulcers, and as a douche for vaginal discharge. Other indigenous uses include treating intestinal fevers and inflamed or infected gums, in vaginal baths before and after childbirth, for hemorrhaging after childbirth, and for skin disorders.
Sangre de grado resin and bark are used in traditional medicine in South America today in much the same manner as indigenous ones. In Peruvian herbal medicine, it is recommended for hemorrhaging, as an antiseptic vaginal douche and, topically, for healing wounds. It is also used internally for ulcers in the mouth, throat, intestines, and stomach; as an antiviral for upper respira tory viruses, stomach viruses, and HTV; internally and externally for cancer and, topically, for skin disorders, insect bites, and stings. In Brazilian traditional medicine, the sap currently is used for wounds, hemorrhaging, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, and as a general tonic.
PLANT CHEMICALS |
Sangre de grado resin or sap is a storehouse of phytochemicals, including proanthocyanidins (antioxidants), simple phenols, diterpenes, phytosterols, and biologically active alkaloids and lignans. Scientists have attributed many of the biologically active properties of .the sap (especially its wound-healing capacity) to two main "active" constituents: an alkaloid named taspine, and a lignan named dimethylcedrusine.
Of course, botanists, herbalists, and naturopaths would disagree with such reductionist conclusions (and often do); in this particular case, the matter is actually proven by science. Noted author and ex-USDA economic botanist Dr. James Duke summed this up eloquently, saying,
like the comments on dragon's blood, and would add one further note: in addition to the proanthocyanadins (including Pycnogenol) and taspine, there's another active ingredient—dimethylcedrusine. While each of these alone— dimethylcedrusine, Pycnogenol and taspine—was shown to effectively heal wounded rats (with squares of skin exfoliated, i.e., peeled off) by European scientists, the whole dragon's blood was shown to speed healing four times faster. The whole was better than the sum of its parts. Synergy makes the whole herb stronger; diversity makes the rainforest stronger. 1
While several chemicals in the resin have been scientifically documented with wound-healing actions, the natural crude resin was shown to be four times more effective at healing wounds than any isolated chemical
Sangre de grade's traditional use for wounds has been confirmed by scientists. In laboratory studies with animals the crude resin reportedly stimulated contraction of wounds, helped in the formation of a crust/scab at the wound site, regenerated skin more rapidly, and assisted in the formation of new collagen. |
The taspine alkaloid from sangre de grado was first documented with anti- inflammatory actions in 1979. 2 In 1985, taspine was documented with anti- inflammatory, antitumorous (against sarcomas), and antiviral actions. 3
The main plant chemicals in sangre de grado include alpha-calacorene, alpha-copaene, alpha-pinene, alpha-thujene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-elemene, beta-pinene, betaine, bincatriol, borneol, calamenene, camphene, catechins, cedrucine, crolechinic acid, cuparophenol, D-limonene, daucosterol, dihydro- benzofuran, dimethylcedrusine, dipentene, eugenol, euparophenol, gallocate-chin, gamma-terpinene, gamma-terpineol, hardwickiic acid, isoboldine, korberin A and B, lignin, linalool, magnoflorine, methylthymol, myrcene, norisoboldine, p-cymene, proanthocyanidins, procyanidins, resin, tannin, taspine, terpinen-4-ol, and vanillin.
The wound-healing action of sangre de grado resin was first related to the taspine alkaloid in 1989. 4 Several later studies also concentrated on the wound-healing' and antitumorous properties of taspine. 6 The lignan dimethyl- cedrusine was isolated by scientists in 1993 and was shown to play a central role in sangre de grade's effective wound-healing action. 7 This Belgian study revealed that the crude resin stimulated contraction of wounds, helped in the formation of a crust/scab at the wound site, regenerated skin more rapidly, and assisted in the formation of new collagen. This was the study to which Dr. Duke referred in documenting that the crude resin was found to be four times more effective at wound healing and collagen formation than its isolated chemicals (and healed wounds ten to twenty times faster than using nothing at all). 7
The Belgian scientists also determined that taspine was active against herpes virus in this study. In 1994 other phytochemicals were found, including phenolic compounds, proanthocyanadins, and diterpenes, which showed potent antibacterial activity (against E. coli and Bacillus subtilis) as well as wound-healing properties. 8 Another study documented sangre de grade's antioxidant effects 9 and researchers in Canada documented its antifungal properties. 10
Another important traditional use of the sap was verified by clinical research in a 2000 study designed to evaluate its gastrointestinal effects. Researchers concluded that "Sangre de grado is a potent, cost-effective treatment for gas trointestinal ulcers and distress via antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and sen sory afferent-dependent actions." 11 In 2002, these same researchers reported that sangre de grado evidenced an in vitro effect against stomach cancer and colon cancer cells as well. 12 In 2003, Italian researchers reported that the resin inhibited the growth of a human myelogenous leukemia cell line and also prevented cells from mutating in test tube studies. 13
Extracts of sangre de grado have demonstrated antiviral activity against influenza, parainfluenza, herpes simplex viruses I and II, and hepatitis A and g 7,8,14,15 7h e antiviral and anti-diarrhea properties of sangre de grado have come to the attention of the pharmaceutical industry over the last ten years. A U.S.-based pharmaceutical company has filed patents on three pharmaceutical preparations that contain antiviral constituents and novel chemicals (a group of plant flavonoids they've named SP-303), extracted from the bark and resin of sangre de grado. Their patented drugs include an oral product for the treat ment of respiratory viral infections, a topical antiviral product for the treatment of herpes, and an oral product for the treatment of persistent diarrhea. These products have been the subject of various human clinical trials. Although the immunomodulating effects of sangre de grado have not been the subject of targeted research yet, some researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities may provide nonspecific immune enhancement effects as well. 16
Sangre de grado resin and bark (as well as some of its chemicals) have been patented and made into prescription drugs for viruses, including herpes, upper respiratory viruses, and stomach viruses. |
More recently, several scientific tests have been conducted on a proprietary sangre de grado product (made into a skin balm), which was also based on traditional uses. They reported that in pest control workers, a sangre de grado balm was preferred over placebo, for the relief of itching, pain, discomfort, swelling, and redness in response to wasps, fire ants, mosquitoes, bees, cuts, abrasions, and allergic plant reactions (poison ivy and others). 17 Subjects report ed relief within minutes, and that it provided pain relief and alleviated symp toms (itching and swelling) for up to six hours. These reported effects in humans, as well as several other tests they conducted in animals and in vitro models of inflammation, led them to conclude that sangre de grado prevents pain sensation by blocking the activation of nerve fibers that relay pain signals to the brain (therefore functioning as a broad-acting pain killer), as well as blocking the tissue response to a chemical released by nerves that promotes inflammation.
CURRENT Research has confirmed many of the indigenous uses of this powerful rainfor-PRACTICAL USES est pl ant- It is a wonderful, sustainable rainforest resource that warrants con sumer attention as it becomes more widely available in the marketplace. Applied directly to the affected area, it is helpful for all types of cuts, scrapes, external wounds, bites, stings, rashes, and skin problems, including skin and nail fungi. James E. Williams, OMD, sums up sangre de grade's many uses by natural health practitioners, stating
There is a wide range of potential applications for sangre de grado, including as a broad-spectrum anti-diarrheal agent from causes such as side effects of drugs, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, microbial infections of the intes tine, traveler's diarrhea, and viral-induced diarrhea as in AIDS. It may also have other uses in gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative diseases. Its cytotoxic effects make it a possible antitumor agent and its cicatrizant properties provide wound-healing potential. In addition, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of sangre de grado make it a use ful compound in the clinical treatment of chronic viral diseases and as a natural antibacterial agent. 15
In addition, several health practitioners in the U.S. indicate benefits in using sangre de grado resin internally for diabetic neuropathy because of its previously documented effects on nerve endings, nerve pain, and nerve inflammation. Benefits have also been reported with diabetes-related skin ulcers and sores (applied topically), which have refused to heal using other methods.
Traditional For external use, the resin/sap is rubbed directly on the affected area several Preparation times daily and allowed to dry. Please note: the resin is red! It will temporarily stain the skin a reddish-brown (which will wash off), but it will permanently stain clothing. Rubbing the resin in the palm of the hand first or directly where applied will thicken the resin into a thin, lighter colored paste, which helps form a second skin on top of a wound or rash and reduces staining. For internal use, the traditional remedy is 10-15 drops in a small amount of liquid, taken one to three times daily (be prepared, however; it tastes quite dreadful).
Contraindications None reported. Drug Interactions None reported.
Region Brazil Dominican Republic Ecuador Mexico Peru |
Uses
For bacterial infections, blood cleansing, cancer, digestive disorders, fever, fungal infections, hemorrhages, stomach ulcers, tumors, ulcer (mouth), wounds, and for its astringent (drying) effects for wounds, and to stop bleeding for cancer, inflammation, wounds for fever, infected gums, wounds for cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, eczema, fractures, fungal infections, gastrointestinal problems, hemorrhages, hemorrhoids, infected gums, infections, insect bites, laryngitis, rheumatism, skin cancer, skin rashes, throat problems, toothache, tumors, ulcers (intestinal, mouth, stomach), vaginal discharge, vaginal infections, vaginitis, wounds, and as an antiseptic for cancer, diabetic neuropathy, eczema, fungal infections (skin, nail, foot), hemorrhages, inflammation, insect bites, itching, pain, rashes, ulcers (intestinal, mouth, skin, stomach), wounds, and as an antiseptic.
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