Sanguis Draxonis
Dragon's Blood

Source:
The processed product of the resin secreted from the fruits of Daemonorops draco Bl. (Fam. Palmae).

Distribution:
Mainly in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia, and countries such as India and Malaysia.

Harvest & Processing:
Collect mature fruits, i.e. those with dense small hard scales on the surface and covered almost entirely by red resin secreted from between the scales. Dry the fruits thoroughly under the sun; put in a basket together with shells; shake hard so that the loose and crisp resin flakes of the fruits come off; sieve away foreign matter; wrap the flakes with cloth and put into hot water to soften into a blob; take out and let cool to produce 'Yuanzhuang Xuejie' (Processed Dragon's Blood). Resin of Daemonorops draco mixed with supplementary materials like dammar is called ' Jiagong Xuejie' (Processed Dragon's Blood with supplements).

Description:
Processed Dragon's Blood with supplements: Slightly subspherical cube; 6-8 cm in diameter, about 4 cm thick, 250-280 g in weight. Outer surface dull red or dark red, lustrous; base flat and orbicular (round), top end shows longitudinal marks caused by bundling. Hard and brittle; surface of broken-section red; when ground into powder, brick-red. When broken, surface lustrous, or in some cases rough, lustreless, and dark red; when ground into powder, blood-red. Odourless; taste: mild.

Indications:
1. Post traumatic swelling, bruises and pain
2. Chronic ulcer, wound pain
3. Amenorrhoea

Chemical Composition:
Mainly contains dracorubin and dracorhodin.