Sangre De Grado Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Sangre de Grado, which means "dragon's blood" or "blood of the dragon" in Spanish, is a deep red sap that comes from the bark of Croton lechleri, a tree that grows in the Amazon rainforest of South America. When the bark is cut, it releases a thick, dark-red liquid that has been used for centuries in traditional Amazonian medicine.

People have traditionally applied the sap directly to the skin for cuts, wounds, and insect bites, or taken it by mouth for diarrhea and stomach problems. Today it is sold as a liquid sap, tincture, topical gel, or capsule. A purified compound from this plant, called crofelemer, is also used in a prescription medicine for certain types of diarrhea.

The red sap contains several natural plant compounds. One that has been studied is taspine, which lab research suggests may help with wound healing. The sap also contains proanthocyanidins (a group of plant antioxidants), and the purified extract crofelemer appears to reduce the flow of fluid and chloride into the intestines, which may explain its anti-diarrhea effect.

Other compounds in the sap have shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory tests. It is important to know that most of this information comes from test-tube and animal research, and results in those settings do not always carry over to people.

Sangre de Grado has a long history of traditional use, and short-term use appears to be reasonably well tolerated by many people. Still, modern safety data for the supplement is limited, so caution is wise.

People with chronic health conditions, those taking other medicines, children, and older adults should talk with a healthcare provider before using it. If you have ongoing or severe diarrhea, do not rely on a supplement; see a doctor, because untreated diarrhea can cause dangerous dehydration.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough reliable safety information for these situations. Because the sap contains active compounds and safety is unclear, it is best to avoid Sangre de Grado if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When taken by mouth, the sap may cause stomach upset, nausea, or an unpleasant taste. When used on the skin, it can stain the skin and clothing red and may cause irritation or an allergic reaction in some people.

Stop using it and seek medical care if you notice signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing, or worsening symptoms. Because supplement quality and purity can vary, choosing products from reputable manufacturers is important.

There is no official, standardized dose for Sangre de Grado supplements. The right amount can depend on the form (liquid sap, tincture, gel, or capsule) and the concentration of the specific product.

If you choose to use it, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed the recommended amount. Because doses are not well established, it is a good idea to ask a pharmacist or doctor before starting, and to keep them informed about any supplements you take.