Dragon’s Blood Sangre de Drago – Ancient Cure-All?
The mystical substance hiding under the mysterious and captivating name “dragon’s blood” is incredibly interesting. For hundreds, even thousands of years, Mother Nature has shared it with her children. Sangre de Drago – dragon’s blood – is highly valued, especially in South American countries. It is there that indigenous tribes discovered a number of valuable properties of dragon’s blood. But does it have anything to do with legendary creatures? Our article will dispel any doubts about one of the natural wonders of our planet.
Sangre de Drago – what is dragon’s blood?
Dragon’s blood is nothing more than resin from exotic trees, which is distinguished by its intense red color. It mainly comes from plants of the Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang, as well as Pterocarpus species.
Interestingly, today we mainly associate dragon’s blood with South American countries. This is mainly due to the common name of this substance, which comes from Spanish languages. Truth be told, this resin appeared throughout history in many different cultures. It can be said that dragon’s blood was available in all corners of the world.
Ancient Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, and – above all – inhabitants of South America valued the miraculous properties of Sangre de Drago. This resin was believed to provide exceptional health benefits, just like many other types of natural plant secretions. In some parts of the world, the popularity of this blood-red resin persists to this day.
For example, in China and Indonesia, dragon’s blood can be bought in the form of dried balls. In many regions of South America, on the other hand, indigenous people sell resin in liquid form. Packed in special bottles, it is a product available at folk medicine markets.
It is worth adding that in ancient times, dragon’s blood also had practical applications. Mediterranean basin residents used it as a pigment and dye. Nowadays, the Chinese also dye fabrics with Sangre de Drago, especially during the Chinese New Year festivities.
How did dragon’s blood first make its way to Europe? Probably from the island of Socotra, then along the incense route, and then along the Mediterranean coast. Today belonging to Yemen, this island used to play a key role in international trade. It is there that a significant number of Dracaena cinnibari trees grow, which are a great source of this medicinal resin.
Traditional Use of Sangre de Drago in Medicine
Dragon’s blood gained popularity in the ancient world mainly due to its medicinal properties. Today, it is said that in the past, Sangre de Drago was considered a kind of cure-all. Although conventional medicine is reluctant to use traditional and natural healing methods, this resin is an interesting element of alternative medicine. What did dragon’s blood help with in the past and may still help with today?
Ancient Greeks and Romans used this resin not only as a painting and clothing pigment. The substance appears in their traditional culture as a dietary supplement that helps alleviate respiratory and digestive infections. Currently, many types of dried resin can have similar uses. Sangre de Drago incense also facilitates breathing and clears blocked airways.
Dragon’s blood, like many other resins, is obtained through incisions or small drills in the bark of trees. It is found in the intercellular spaces of plants, which secrete it to seal any damage to the tree’s structure. For this reason, ancient people used resin to seal their wounds and abrasions. Sangre de Drago could be applied to the damaged area of the skin. The resin forms an additional protective layer, which contributes to faster wound healing. Of course, such a place should be properly cleaned and prepared before application.
Medical resin also found its use as an antiseptic. The anti-inflammatory properties of dragon’s blood caused it to be consumed for stomach and chest pains. Moreover, it is also able to combat skin inflammation, which is associated with its use in the form of oil for wounds.
We must not forget that dragon’s blood is excellent as incense. The essential oil smells exceptionally interesting and releases its fragrance wonderfully in a diffuser. An intense woody smell will be released, which calms the mind and soothes the spirit. Currently, practitioners of Voodoo and Hoodoo beliefs eagerly use this incense. Sangre de Drago is intended to remove negative energy and drive away evil spirits.
Dragon’s Blood and Potential Side Effects of Use
Similarly to other types of resin products, dragon’s blood in excessive amounts can cause problems. This applies in particular to the traditional use of the product orally. People who consumed Sangre de Drago complained of additional stomach pains, nausea, dizziness, or constipation. It is worth emphasizing that before consuming any unconventional medicine, it is best to consult a doctor.
Furthermore, resin products have not been thoroughly researched enough to determine if they are harmful to health in any way. Even more so, this cannot be said about dried dragon’s blood, which is available in incense form. This product remains one of the most valued types of resin in the world. Therefore, using such a form of Sangre de Drago is safe.
How to Use Sangre de Drago
To fully enjoy the best effects that dragon’s blood brings, it should be used in droplet form. The oil can be dripped into a diffuser or placed on top of a candle-lit burner. As the smoke escapes, an intense resinous smell will appear. It perfectly combines with pine, bergamot, cedar, and citrus essential oils.
The traditional use of dragon’s blood orally involves pouring a few drops into a glass of water. By using Sangre de Drago with drinks, stomach pains and gastric problems can allegedly be cured.
The spiritual significance of dragon’s blood is primarily based on removing negative energy from homes and apartments. In tribal belief systems, this resin is intended to drive away evil spirits and cleanse energy. Therefore, it is worth performing a cleansing ritual in your surroundings. Before the ceremony, think about the reasons why you want to perform the ritual. They should never be selfish, but rather universal and important.
It is also worth trying dragon’s blood incense during meditation and yoga sessions. The scent of essential oil induces a state of bliss and can open the mind to completely new experiences. Thanks to this, the boundaries of knowledge expand, and you can explore your spirituality more deeply.
All advice found in this article should be followed solely at your own risk.
