Types of Dragon's Blood

The bright red resin from the sap of a tree, dragons blood is used as an incense, a dye and an herbal medicine. There are several different sources for this red resin, many of them from very different trees in different parts of the world. Dragons blood is also very popular among practitioners of neo-paganism and witchcraft, who use it in various rituals.

Dracaena cinnabari

• Native to the Socotra archipelago in the Indian Ocean, the Dracaena cinnabari tree is the source of the dragon's blood incense that was used in ancient Mediterranean cultures as an important herbal medicine and dye. A study published in the journal "Phytotherapy Research" in March 2001 found that dragon's blood resin from Dracaena cinnabari contains powerful antioxidant compounds, comparable in strength to commercially marketed antioxidant products like quercetin.

Dracaena draco

• Closely related to Dracaena cinnabari, this type of dragon's blood tree is native to the Canary Islands of the Atlantic Ocean. Dracaena draco produces a lighter consistency red sap that has been used for centuries as a dye for wood products like violins. A study published in the journal "Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry" in 2004 found that resin from Dracaena draco contains a compound that is toxic to leukemia cells and caused them to self destruct in laboratory experiments.

Calamus rotang

• Native to southwest Asia, Calamus rotang is a palm that sports bright red fruits that are crushed for thier red resinous juice, sold locally as dragon's blood. The tree itself is one of the prime materials used in rattan furniture making and wickerwork. An article published in the Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine in Novemeber 2009 states that Calamus rotang resin is used in Ayurvedic medicine, along with other herbs, as a treatment for skin cancers when applied externally.

Croton lechleri

• Known throughout tropical South America as Sangre de Grado, Croton lechleri is a medium-sized tree that produces a dark red sap called dragon's blood when its bark is broken. This type of dragon's blood has a long history of folk use as a wound healer when applied directly on the skin and is sold at markets as a cure all for many different ailments. A study published in the journal "Planta Med" in 2003 found that the resin from Croton lecheri had not only strong anti-inflammatory properties, but high antioxidant values, as well.