Dragon's Blood is the striking dark-red latex sap harvested from Croton lechleri, a tree native to the Amazon basin of South America. Indigenous peoples of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia have used it for generations as a go-to remedy for cuts, wounds, stomach troubles, and infections. Its deep color and thick texture gave rise to the evocative name 'Sangre de Drago' — dragon's blood.

Dragon's Blood works through several pathways at once. Its key compound, crofelemer, reduces fluid secretion in the intestinal lining, which directly curbs diarrhea. Topically, the alkaloid taspine stimulates wound healing by encouraging skin cells to migrate and close over injuries. The resin also contains powerful antioxidant proanthocyanidins that calm inflammation and help protect tissues from damage.

The raw liquid resin can be applied directly to wounds or taken orally as drops. Capsule and tablet forms are used for gut-related conditions. In clinical settings, crofelemer is available as a pharmaceutical tablet (Mytesi/Crofelemer). Traditional Amazonian use typically involves applying a few drops of the raw sap directly to cuts or taking a small amount orally for stomach issues.

• Diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea
• Wound healing and skin cuts
• Gut inflammation and leaky gut
• HIV-related diarrhea
• Mouth sores and ulcers
• Skin inflammation and rashes
• Stomach ulcers
• Irritable bowel symptoms

• Wound infection (topical antimicrobial barrier effect)
• Traveler's diarrhea severity when taken prophylactically

• Berries (blueberries, blackberries, grapes) — Rich in proanthocyanidins — the same class of antioxidants responsible for Dragon's Blood's gut-protective and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Dark chocolate (70%+ cacao) — A concentrated source of proanthocyanidins and flavonoids that support gut lining health and reduce intestinal inflammation.
• Green tea — Contains catechins and tannins that share antimicrobial and gut-protective properties with Dragon's Blood compounds.
• Turmeric — Curcumin supports gut lining integrity and reduces intestinal inflammation through pathways complementary to Dragon's Blood.
• Bone broth — Provides collagen and gelatin that directly support gut lining repair and integrity, complementing Dragon's Blood's wound-healing action internally.

• Mild nausea or stomach upset (oral use)
• Constipation if overused
• Skin irritation or allergic reaction (topical use, rare)
• Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data

• Recommended daily: Oral resin: 1–3 mL of liquid resin per day, or 300–500 mg standardized extract in capsule form. Pharmaceutical crofelemer (Mytesi): 125 mg twice daily as prescribed. Topical: apply small amount of raw resin directly to wound 1–3 times daily.
• Best time of day: Oral use: take before meals for digestive support. Topical: apply as needed after cleaning the wound.
• With or without food: Can be taken with or without food; taking with a small meal may reduce the chance of nausea.
• Time to effect: Diarrhea relief: typically within 1–3 days. Wound healing: noticeable improvement within 3–7 days.
• How long to take it: For acute diarrhea: use for 3–5 days as needed. For ongoing gut support: limit continuous oral use to 2–4 weeks and consult a practitioner before extending. Topical use can continue until the wound heals.