Last update Dec. 2, 2022

Dragon´s blood

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Latex obtained from the bark of trees of the species Croton. Contains polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin, galocatechin, epigallocatechin and proanthocyanidins. Properties: Healing, antiseptic (virus and bacteria), antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory. (Fitoterapia.net, Pona 2019, Jones 2003). Topical and oral administration.

At the date of the last update, the authors did not find any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

The low plasma absorption of most topical dermatological preparations makes the transfer of significant amounts to breast milk unlikely. Its topical use is fully compatible with breastfeeding. Do not apply to the chest to prevent the infant from ingesting it; if necessary, apply after one feeding and clean well with water before the next.

Several of the components of the dragon blood are grouped into a high molecular weight, orally inabsorbable compound (Crofelemer) that is used as an antidiarrheal agent. (MedlinePlus 2021, Nee 2019)

No toxic side effects have been reported with appropriate oral use and therefore, at correct doses, it would be compatible with breast-feeding.

Precautions when taking plant preparations (Anderson 2017, Powers 2015, Posadzki 2013, Efferth 2011, Kopec 1999): 

  1. Make sure they are from a reliable source. Poisonings have occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties (Hsu 1995), poisonings due to containing heavy metals extracted from the soil and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi. 
  2. Do not take in excess. Follow the recommendations of professional experts in herbal medicine. “Natural” products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which a large part of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause poisoning or act as endocrine disruptors because they contain phytoestrogens (Powers 2015) if they are consumed in an exaggerated quantity or time.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Dragon´s blood is also known as


Dragon´s blood in other languages or writings:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Dragon´s blood in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. ≈ 0 %
Molecular weight Crofelemer: 900 - 9.000 daltons

References

  1. Fitoterapia.net. Vanaclocha B, Cañigueral S. Fitoterapia.net. 1992 - - Disponible en: https://www.fitoterapia.net. Consulted on Dec. 21, 2023 Abstract
  2. MedlinePlus. Crofelemer Trusted Health information for you. 2021 Full text (link to original source)
  3. MedlinePlus Crofelemer. Información de salud para usted. 2021 Full text (link to original source)
  4. Pona A, Cline A, Kolli SS, Taylor SL, Feldman SR. Review of future insights of Dragon's Blood in dermatology. Dermatol Ther. 2019 Mar;32(2):e12786. Abstract
  5. Nee J, Salley K, Ludwig AG, Sommers T, Ballou S, Takazawa E, Duehren S, Singh P, Iturrino J, Katon J, Lee HN, Rangan V, Lembo AJ. Randomized Clinical Trial: Crofelemer Treatment in Women With Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2019 Dec;10(12):e00110. Abstract
  6. Lock O, Perez E, Villar M, Flores D, Rojas R. Bioactive Compounds from Plants Used in Peruvian Traditional Medicine. Nat Prod Commun. 2016 Mar;11(3):315-37. Review. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  7. Jones K. Review of sangre de drago (Croton lechleri)--a South American tree sap in the treatment of diarrhea, inflammation, insect bites, viral infections, and wounds: traditional uses to clinical research. J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Dec;9(6):877-96. Review. Abstract

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