Dragon's Blood,A resin derived from the fruit of Calamus Draco....

  seminal trace...Dragon's Blood extract,5:1.Calamus Draco,Calamus gum,Willdenow extract,Daemonorops,Daemomorops draco,Sanguis Draconis...

   Botanical Identification of Dragon's Blood:

 Resina Draconis.:Dragon's Blood.(Xuejie)
 A resin derived from the fruit of Calamus Draco, Willdenow (Daemonorops Draco, Blume).
 Nat. Ord.Palmae.
 Common Name:Dragon's Blood,Calamus gum
 Family: Arecaceae or Palmae(Palmaceae).
 Latin name:Daemonorops, Draco
 English Name:Dragon's Blood
 Botanical:Daemomorops draco (BLUME),Daemonorops draco Bl., Dracaena spp.
 Pharmaceutical Name: Sanguis Draconis

 Synonyms:Calamus Draco. Draconis Resina. Sanguis draconis. Dragon's Blood Palm. Blume.
 Folk Names:Blood, Blume, Dragon's Blood Palm,Calamus Draco, Draconis Resina,Danguis Draconis
 Ayurvedic Name:HiraDukhi
 Also Known As: Draconis Resina, Dracorubin, Dragons Blood, Dragon's-Blood Palm, Sanguis Draconis, Xue Jie,qi ling jie,xue li hua,Daemonorops draco, synonym Calamus draco.
 Part Used:The resinous exudation of the fruits.
 Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The red resinous secretion from the fruit and stem is collected during the summer. It is heated or steamed into a solid resin, then pounded into powder.
 Habitat:Sumatra, S.Borneo,Hainan,Vietnam,Cambodia(Dracaena)
 Related entry: Olibanum.;Frankincense;Myrrha (U. S. P.);Myrrh
 Gender: Masculine
 Planet: Mars
 Element: Fire
 Power: Protection, Love, Exorcism, Potency
 Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao
 Properties & Taste: Sweet, salty and neutral
 Meridians: Heart and liver

 

 Botanical Identification of Dragon's Blood:
 Description and Botanical Source:
 Dragon's blood Chemical Composition:
 Uses of Dragon's Blood:
 Dragon's blood History:
 Magickal Uses of Dragon's Blood:
 Religious Use of Dragon's Blood:
 Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.:
 Suggestions and Administrations:
 Research Update:Calamus Draco or Dragon's blood


   Description and Botanical Source:

 Calamus Draco is a small palm growing in the islands of the Indian archipelago. While the plants are young the trunk is erect, and resembles an elegant, slender palm tree, armed with innumerable dark-colored, flattened elastic spines, often disposed in oblique rows, with their bases united. By age they become scandent, and overrun trees to a great extent. The leaves are pinnate, their sheaths in petioles armed as above described; leaflets single, alternate, ensiform, margins remotely armed with stiff, slender bristles, as are also the ribs; 12 to 18 inches long and about 3/4 inch broad. The spadix of the female is hermaphrodite and inserted by means of a short, armed petiole on the mouth of the sheath opposite to the leaf, and is oblong and decompound, resembling a common oblong panicle. Spathes several, one to each of the 4 or 5 primary ramifications of the spadix, lanceolate and leathery; all smooth except the exterior or lower one, which is armed on the outside. Calyx turbinate, ibbed, mouth 3-toothed, by the swelling of the ovary split into 3 portions, and in this manner adhering, together with the corolla, to the ripe berries. Corolla 3-cleft; divisions ovate-lanceolate, twice as long as the calyx, and permanent. Filaments 6, very broad, and inserted into the base of the corolla. Anthers filiform, and seemingly abortive. Ovary oval; style short; stigmas 3-cleft; divisions revolute and glandular on the inside. The berry is round, pointed, and of the size of a cherry (L.Roxb.).

 Dragon's Blood, as known in commerce, has several origins, the substance so named being contributed by widely differing species. Probably the best known is that from Sumatra. Daemomorops Draco formerly known as Calamus Draco, was transferred with many others of the species to Daemomorops, the chief distinguishing mark being the placing of the flowers along the branches instead of their being gathered into catkins, as in those remaining under Calamus.

 The long, slender stems of the genus are flexible, and the older trees develop climbing propensities. The leaves have prickly stalks which often grow into long tails and the bark is provided with many hundreds of flattened spines. The berries are about the size of a cherry, and pointed. When ripe they are covered with a reddish, resinous substance which is separated in several ways, the most satisfactory being by steaming, or by shaking or rubbing in coarse, canvas bags. An inferior kind is obtained by boiling the fruits to obtain a decoction after they have undergone the second process. The product may come to market in beads, joined as if forming a necklace, and covered with leaves (Tear Dragon's Blood), or in small, round sticks about 18 inches long, packed in leaves and strips of cane. Other varieties are found in irregular lumps, or in a reddish powder. They are known as lump, stick, reed, tear, or saucer Dragon's Blood.

 Dragon's Blood. Sanguis Draconis. Sang-dragon, Fr. Drachenblut, G. Sangre de drago, Sp.Dragon's blood, of which there are several commercial varieties, is a resinous exudation obtained from the fruits of a number of palms. East Indian dragon's blood is obtained from a number of species of Daemonorops, a genus which was previously ascribed to Calamus. Malay dragon's blood is obtained from Daemonorops didynophyllos (more), D. micranthus (more) and D. propinquus (more); Sumatra dragon's blood from Daemonorops Draco Blume (more) (Calamus Draco Willd.). In Borneo a dragon's blood is obtained from Daemonorops draconcellus (more) and other species of Daemonorops. On the surface of the fruit, when ripe, is an exudation, which is separated by rubbing, or shaking in a bag, or by exposure to the vapor of boiling water, or finally by decoction. The finest resin is procured by the two former methods. It comes in two forms: sometimes in small oval masses [tear dragon's blood) of a size varying from that of a hazelnut to that of a walnut, covered with the leaves of the plant, and connected in a row like beads in a necklace; sometimes in cylindrical sticks, eighteen inches long and from a quarter to half an inch in diameter, thickly covered with palm leaves, and bound round with slender strips of cane. See paper by E. M. Holmes in P. J., 1905, 933.

 Dragon's blood is inodorous and tasteless, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol, ether, and the volatile and fixed oils, with which it forms red solutions. According to Herberger, it consists of 90.7 parts of a red resin, which he calls draconin, 2.0 of fixed oil, 3.0 of benzoic acid, 1.6 of calcium oxalate, and 3.7 of calcium phosphate. Tschirch (Harze und Harzbeh?lter, 1900, p. 189) has made an elaborate study of dragon's blood, and finds 2.5 per cent. of draco-alban, C20H4O4, a white substance melting with decomposition at about 200 Deg C. (392 Deg¡ã F.); 13.58 per cent. of draco resen, a yellow resinous substance of the formula C26H4O4, and 56.86 per cent. of draco resin, a resin ester or mixture of esters, benzoic dracoresinotannol ester and benzoylaceticdraco-resinotannol ester, and 18.4 per cent. of insoluble substances. It was formerly employed in medicine as an astringent, but is nearly or quite inert, and is now never given internally. It is sometimes used to impart color to plasters. For further information concerning this drug, see U. S. D., 19th ed., p. 1475.

 

  Other Species:

 The Malay varieties are from D. didynophyllos, D. micranthus and D. propinguus.

 The Borneo variety is from D. draconcellus and others. 'Zanzibar Drop' or Socotrine Dragon's Blood is imported from Bombay and Zanzibar, and is the product of D. cinnabari. It has no scales, and like other nonSumatra varieties, is not soluble in benzene and carbon disulphide.

 Dracaena Draco is a giant tree of the East Indies and Canary Islands, and shares with the baobab tree the distinction of being the oldest living representative of the vegetable kingdom, being much reverenced by the Guanches of the Canaries, who use its product for embalming in the fashion of the Egyptians.

 The trunk cracks and emits a red resin used as 'tear' Dragon's Blood, now rarely seen in commerce.

 Dracaena terminalis, or Chinese Colli, yields Chinese Dragon's Blood, used in China for its famous red varnish. In some countries a syrup, yielding sugar, is made from the roots (called Tii roots). An intoxicating drink can be made from it, and it has also been used in dysentery and diarrhoea, and as a diaphoretic.

 Pterocarpus Draco, of the East Indies and South America, yields a resin found, as Guadaloupe Dragon's Blood, in small irregular lumps.
 Croton Draco or Mexican Dragon's Blood, is called Sangre del Drago, and is used in Mexico as a vulnerary and astringent. Others used are from:
 Croton hibiscifolius of New Granada.
 Croton sanguifolius of New Andalusia, and
 Calamus rotang of the East Indies and Spanish America.


   Dragon's blood Chemical Composition:

 Herberger found dragon's blood to consist chiefly of a red resin (90.7 per cent) which he called draconin. He also established the presence of benzoic acid. Hlasiwetz and Barth by fusing dragon's blood with caustic potash obtained benzoic, para-oxy-benzoic, oxalic and probably protocatechuic acids. E. Hirschsohn (Jahresb. der Pharm., 1877, pp. 54 and 404) established the behavior of genuine dragon's blood toward solvents and reagents. It is soluble in alcohol and ether with red color, less so in chloroform; if the article is derived from Pterocarpus Draco of the West Indies, it will be but little soluble in chloroform. Petroleum ether abstracted only from 1 to 7 per cent of soluble matter. Dragon's blood, in connection with other resins, was investigated in recent years by Prof. Tschirch and his pupils. K. Dieterich (Jahresb. der Pharm., 1896, p. 159) examined a specimen derived from Daemonorops Draco (Java and Sumatra) and found it to contain: (1) Dracoalban (2.5 percent) an amorphous indifferent, not fusible body, abstracted by ether and precipitated by alcohol; it has the formula, C20H40O4; (2) dracoresin (13.58 per cent) soluble in petroleum ether, alcohol, and ether, of the formula, C20H44O2, fusing at 74 Deg C. (165.2 Deg F.); (3) red resin (56.8 per cent), a mixture of two esters, namely, compounds of the alcohol, C8H10O2 (dracoresino-tannol) with benzoic acid (C6H5.COOH) and with benzoyl acetic acid (C6H5.CO.CH2.COOH); (4) a resin soluble in alcohol, insoluble in ether (0.33 per cent); (5) phlobaphenes (0.03 per cent); (6) woody fragments, etc. (18.40 per cent); (7) ash (8.30 per cent). Draco-resino-tannol yields, upon dry distillation, benzene (benzol), toluene, styrol, phenyl acetylene, phenol, resorcin, pyrogallol, phloroglucin, acetic acid and creosote.

 The soluble portion of dragons' blood consists of about 56 per cent. of a red resin (dracoresinotannol combined with benzoic and benzoyl-acetic acids), 13 per cent. of a bright yellow amorphous resene (dracoresene), and 2.5 per cent. of a white amorphous body (dracoalban). The latter may be detected in Sumatran dragons' blood by boiling 10 grammes of powdered resin in 50 mils of ether, concentrating to 30 mils and pouring into 50 mils of absolute alcohol; on allowing it to stand for an hour, a white, flocculent precipitate of dracoalban is obtained.
 

 Several analyses of Dragon's Blood have been made with the following results:

 (1) 50 to 70 per cent resinous compound of benzoic and benzylacetic acid, with dracoresinotannol, and also dracon alban and dracoresene.

 Note:Benzoic acid, C6H5C(O)OH, is an aromatic carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid is used as a food preservative and occurs naturally in certain plants. For example, it is a major component of gum benzoin, which in turn is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies.
 The aromatic ring is similar to that of benzene.
 Among benzoic acid's derivatives are Salicylic acid and 2-O-acetylsalicyclic acid, also known as aspirin.
 As a food additive, it is, in Europe, known as E210 for the pure compound, or as E211, E212, or E213 for its salts.

 benzoyl-acetic acid;benzylacetic acid:hydrocinnamic acid(benzenepropanoic acid, 3-phenyl-n-propionic acid, benzylacetic acid);CAS 501-52-0 - MW 150.17

 (2) 56.8 per cent of red resin compounded of the first three mentioned above, 2.5 per cent of the white, amorphous dracoalban, 13.58 of the yellow, resinous dracoresene, 18.4 vegetable debris, and 8.3 per cent. ash.

 (3) 90.7 per cent of red resin, draconin, 2.0 of fixed oil, 3.0 of benzoic acid, 1.6 of calcium oxalate, and 3.7 of calcium phosphate.

 (4) 2.5 per cent of draco-alban, 13.58 of draco resen, 56.86 of draco resin, benzoic dracoresinotannol ester and benzoylaceticdracoresinotannol ester, with 18.4 of insoluble substances.

 Dragon's Blood is not acted upon by water, but most of it is soluble in alcohol. It fuses by heat. The solution will stain marble a deep red, penetrating in proportion to the heat of the stone.

 Dragon's blood, in connection with other resins, was investigated in recent years by Prof. Tschirch and his pupils. K. Dieterich (Jahresb. der Pharm., 1896, p. 159) examined a specimen derived from Daemonorops Draco (Java and Sumatra) and found it to contain: (1) Dracoalban (2.5 percent) an amorphous indifferent, not fusible body, abstracted by ether and precipitated by alcohol; it has the formula, C20H40O4; (2) dracoresin (13.58 per cent) soluble in petroleum ether, alcohol, and ether, of the formula, C20H44O2, fusing at 74 Deg C. (165.2 Deg F.); (3) red resin (56.8 per cent), a mixture of two esters, namely, compounds of the alcohol, C8H10O2 (dracoresino-tannol) with benzoic acid (C6H5.COOH) and with benzoyl acetic acid (C6H5.CO.CH2.COOH); (4) a resin soluble in alcohol, insoluble in ether (0.33 per cent); (5) phlobaphenes (0.03 per cent); (6) woody fragments, etc. (18.40 per cent); (7) ash (8.30 per cent). Draco-resino-tannol yields, upon dry distillation, benzene (benzol), toluene, styrol, phenyl acetylene, phenol, resorcin, pyrogallol, phloroglucin, acetic acid and creosote.
 

 Chemical Composition:57 to 82% part of xue jie is a mixture of :

 Resin esters:(C6 H5 CO-CH2 CO-OC8 H9O);Dracoresino tannol ( C6 H5 CO-OC8 H9 O);also contiains:

 Dracoalban,~ 2.5%;Dracoresene~14%;insoluble resin 0.3%;plant residue 18.4%;Phlobaphen 0.03%;ash 8.3%;
 dracorhodin,(C17H14O3);dracorubin,(C32H24O5);

 and flavane type of pigments:
   nordracorhodin,(C16H11O3);nordracorubin,(C31H21O5);(2S)-5-methoxy-6methylflavan-7-ol;(2S)-5-methoxyflavan-7-ol;2,4-dihydroxy- 5-methyl-6-methoxychalcone;(2,4-dihydroxy-6- methoxychaicone);pimaric acid,(C20H30O2);isopimaric acid;dehydroabietic acid,(C20H28O2);abietic acid,(C20H30O2);sandaracopimaric acid,(C20H30O2)

 the content of red resin :dracoresino tannoI;benzoic acid;compounds of benzoylacetic acid.

 

   Uses of Dragon's Blood:

 It is used as a colouring matter for varnishes, tooth-pastes, tinctures, plasters, for dyeing horn to imitate tortoiseshell, etc. It is very brittle, and breaks with an irregular, resinous fracture, is bright red and glossy inside, and darker red sometimes powdered with crimson, externally. Small, thin pieces are transparent.

  Medicinal: The resin of Dragon's Blood is used externally as a wash to promote healing and stop bleeding. Internally it is used for chest pains, post-partum bleeding, internal traumas, and menstrual irregularities.

  Dragon's Blood Bath Salt dwp:

 Quantity: Prepare yourself in style for your rituals and celebrations. Made with pure seasalt and clean straight resin.

  Dragon's Blood Oil:

 Dragon's blood oil is good for protection and empowerment and is especially helpful for defense on the astral plane. Like any sword, it has two sides; it can be used in offense as well as defense. On the other hand, some folks work love magick with dragon's blood oil--its red color amplifies the passion of a work and its Mars association increases the power. This magick oil is made by steeping the best refined Chinese dragon's blood resin in safflower oil. Like the dragon's blood palm itself, safflower is a Mars plant (and even contains the Mars metal, iron), so the power of this oil is doubled. In addition, the oil is scented with opoponax, a Mars/Pluto resin that is especially effective for protection as well as for acquiring the kind of knowledge one might wish to gain on the astral plane. It's also nicely fragrant. Dragon's blood resin is a colorant, so this oil can stain clothes. Because this is made from resins instead of essential oils, it will settle out after it sits for a while, so shake thoroughly before using. Store in a cool, dark place.

  Dragons Blood Meridian: HEART, LIVER

 dispel blood stasis, relieve pain:traumatic injuries causing fractures, contusion, sprains, bruising and stops bleeding (topically)
 protect decay of ulcer surface, generate flesh, chronic non-healing sores
 


   Dragon's blood History:

 This dramatic sounding resin isn't quite what its name suggests! The resin comes from the fruits of climbing palm trees, such as Daemonorops draco, in areas of tropical Asia. The fruit of the trees is covered in scales and the bright red shiny resin seeps out between the scales,which looks a bit like blood coming out from a cut (or a scaly dragon's hide). As it seeps out, it's traditionally collected, cleansed and then melted down to form a hard chunk of resin.

 When burnt, Dragon's Blood creates a strong herbal and spicy fragrance. It's traditionally used in Indian ceremonies to get rid of negative energies and spirits and is regarded as having cleansing properties. It's also calming, and some believe it has aphrodisiacal properties, too, especially if you leave a piece under your mattress.

 As well as for burning, the resin has gained other uses throughout history. In the 18th century Italian violinmakers are said to have used it as a source of varnish for their instruments, and the Greeks and Romans regarded it as having medicinal properties. The warriors in ancient China used to carry it with them when going into battle. If they were wounded they used the resin to stop their wounds bleeding so much.

 Incense resins such as in this tin are completely natural. They have been used in incense making and also by themselves for centuries. To burn the resin as an incense you need to have a heat source. Most people use a charcoal disc that is designed specifically for this purpose. The disc should be placed inside a heat resistant container with earth inside if required to shield the strong heat. Once alight the resin can be spooned gently onto the charcoal and the resin becomes an incense and the delightful aromas are released. You can then add more resin as required.

  Raman spectroscopy of coloured resins used in antiquity: dragon's blood and related substances.

 Dragon's blood is a deep red resin which has been used for centuries by many cultures and much prized for it's rarity, depth of colour and alchemical associations. The original source of dragon's blood resin is believed to be Dracaena cinnabari from Socotra in Africa, but since mediaeval times there have been several alternatives from different geographical locations from the Canary Islands to the East Indies. Here, the Raman spectra of dragon's blood resins from Dracaena draco Liliacae trees growing in several different locations bordering the Mediterranean and Middle East are compared with the resins from alternative botanical sources such as Daemonorops draco, Dracaena cinnabari and Eucalyptus terminalis, which all generically come under the description of dragon's blood. Key vibrational spectroscopic marker bands are identified in the Raman spectra of the resins, which are suggested for adoption as a protocol for the identification of the botanical and possible geographical sources of modern dragon's blood resins. The Raman spectra of materials, which are falsely attributed to dragon's blood resin are also shown for comparison and identification purposes. Changes in the Raman spectra of genuine dragon's blood resin specimens arising from simple processing treatment during the preparation of the resins for sale are also identified, which suggests a possible attribution characteristic for unknown samples.


  Dragon's Blood incense: misbranded as a drug of abuse?

 An unknown red substance was being sold and used with other drugs of abuse in Virginia (often being used in conjunction with marihuana). The red substance was identified as Dragon's Blood incense from Daemonorops draco. In bioassays, Dragon's Blood incense exhibited a low, but measurable cytotoxicity in in vitro cell lines. Dragon's Blood incense or Volatilized Dragon's Blood had no adverse effect on mouse motor performance based on the inclined screen and rotorod tests. delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) produced a dose-related decline in mouse performance on the rotorod test. The combination of Dragon's Blood incense or Volatilized Dragon's Blood with delta(9)-THC did not contribute further to the impairment of the mice on the rotorod. This data suggests that the abuse potential for Dragon's Blood incense alone or in combination with marihuana is minimal.

  Related Formulas.

  SOCOTRA DRAGON'S BLOOD:  or Katir, is the product of Dracaena Schizantha, Baker (more), or, according to Hunter, the Dracaena Ombet of Kotschy (more). It is produced in Socotra. It differs from the Sumatra drug in the absence of scales, and in not evolving benzoic acid vapors when heated (Pharmacographia).

  CANARY ISLAND DRAGON'S BLOOD:  is the product obtained by incising the stem of Dracaena Draco, Linn¨¦ (more), of the Canary Isles. Pterocarpus Draco, Linn¨¦ (more), of West Indies and South America, yields a resin known also as dragon's blood, as does Croton Draco, Schlechtendal (more), the product of the latter, however, being more of the nature of kino (Pharmacographia). According to Prof. H. Trimble (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1895, p. 516), a specimen received from Jamaica was for the most part soluble in warm water and contained 46.7 per cent of tannin, referred to dry substance, hence it closely resembled kino. The foregoing are not in general commerce. (For an analytical study of the various red resins known as dragon's blood, see J. J. Debbie and G. G. Henderson, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1884, p. 327).

 Name for a red resin obtained from a number of different plants. It was held by early Greeks, Romans, and Arabs to have medicinal properties; Dioscorides and other early writers described it. A chief source was Dracaena Cinnabari, a tree of the agave family. Voyagers to the Canary Islands in the 15th century obtained it from another species, D. Draco. The resin, exuding beautiful garnet-colored drops when the tree is wounded, was well known as the source of varnish for 18th-century Italian violinmakers. Later, dragon's-blood varnishes and medicines were obtained chiefly from the immature fruits of a palm (Daemonorops Draco) native to Malaya. Although still sometimes used in photoengraving processes, dragon's blood as a coloring material has largely been replaced by synthetics.

  Dragon's Blood in the Products:

  Dragon's Blood in Menopause Health:

 Dragon's Blood is also known as Dragon's Blood, Daemonorops drake, Dracaena spp, Blood, Blume, Calamus Draco, Draconis Resina, Sanguis Draconis, Dragon's Blood Palm. Dragon's Blood is a palm Tree.
 Dragon's blood is a masculine plant and is associated with the planet Mars and the Element of Fire. Its powers are known for love, protection, exorcism, and potency. Lore/Folk magic Beliefs come from Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - 1985 and archival studies from the Tree leaves' Folk Fellowship.
 


   Magickal Uses of Dragon's Blood:

 This resin from a palm tree is burned to entice errant lovers to return. This is usually done by women seated near an open window, looking outside, at night.
 A stick of dragon's blood placed under the pillow or mattress will cure impotency.
 The dried resin is a powerful protectant when carried, sprinkled around the house, or smoldered as incense. It will also drive evil and negativity away when burned.
 A pinch of dragon's blood added to other incenses or oils increases their potency and power.

 To quiet a noisy house, powder some dragon's blood, mix it with sugar and salt, and place in a bottle. Cover this tightly and secured it somewhere in your house where it won't be found. You'll have peace and quiet.

  Magickal: Love, Consecration, Fertility, Funeral Rite, Potency

  Magical usage: According to Cunningham, the resin from this palm tree is burned to entice errant lovers to return which is usually done by women seated near an open window, looking outside, at night. A stick of it placed under the pillow or mattress will cure impotency. Its resin is a powerful protectorate that when carried, smoldered as incense, or sprinkled around the house will drive away evil and negativity. A pinch of it added to other incenses will increase their potency and power. According to Cunningham, in order to quiet a noisy house, use the powder mixed with sugar and salt and place a bottle to be hidden somewhere in the house where it can't be found. The result will be peace and quiet within the house. Lore/Folk Magic Beliefs come from Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - 1985 and archival studies from the Tree Leaves Folk Fellowship.

  Lore:  Magickal Herblists have been stirred by the properties and uses of the resin for generations. Due to its color of red and its pleasing odors. Dragons Blood is widely used in love magick and workings of the heart. Also widely used as a funeral herb, it is most common to burn the resin as incense during funeral rites, for ease of transition. It is said to place a piece of the plant under the mattress cures impotency. It is also added to love sachets and spells to give greater potency of other herbs for magick and rituals when blended together. Although being Dragons Blood is the most common in a love working. Its most well known use is Witches Ink. It is used well opon many paths and faiths for their Journals or B.oS. and for their personal sigil.

  Witches Ink:

 4 oz. Transparent Alcohol (vodka works well)
 2 tsp. Dragons Blood (powdered resin)
 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla (tincture)
 1 tsp. Lavender (tincture)
 1 cinnamon stick
 2 cloves (optional)

 Mix all together in an tightly sealed jar. Shake until mixed well. Place in dark cool cabinet. Bring out once a day and shake up to stir for seven days. Test the ink by placing your pen, needle or toothpick in the ink, then test on paper. If color is dark enough for you it's ready to use. If you would like it even darker then add more resin and repeat the shaking. Test everyday until you have the desired color hue.
 


   Religious Use of Dragon's Blood:

 Added to love incenses and sachets, it increases the potency of other herbs used. A piece of the plant is often used under the mattress as a cure for impotency. It is also used in spells to bring back a loved one. A pinch added to other herbs for magickal purposes will increase their potency.

 Dracaena draco (Daemonorops draco or Calamus draco) - (Dragon Tree resin, Dragon¡¯s Blood; family Palmae - Xue Jie) - Part used is the resinous secretion from the fruit and stem. Taste and property: sweet, salty and neutral. HE LIV. To stop bleeding and eliminate blood stasis (hemostatic); to promote the healing of wounds; analgesic. Main use: traumatic wounds and bleeding. Pharm. Action: anti-fungal. It was considered to be a powerful aphrodisiac and was also reputed to posses the power to make an errant lover return. A piece of the plant is often used under the mattress as a cure for impotency.

 Medicinal Action and Uses: Doses of 10 to 30 grains were formerly given as an astringent in diarrhoea; severe syphilis; chest pains, post-partum bleeding, internal traumas, and menstrual irregularities. Externally as a wash to promote healing and stop bleeding. An intoxicating drink can be made from it, and it has also been used in dysentery and diarrhea, and as a diaphoretic. Dracaena Draco is a giant tree of the East Indies and Canary Islands, and shares with the baobab tree the distinction of being the oldest living representative of the vegetable kingdom. The trunk cracks and emits a red resin used as 'tear' Dragon's Blood.


   Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.:

 Daemonorops draco, a rattan palm native to Malaysia and Indonesia, produces much of the dragon's blood of commerce.

 Formerly valued as a medicine in Europe because of its astringent properties, dragon's blood is also used as a varnish for violins and in photoengraving.

 Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'It is used as a colouring matter for varnishes, tooth-pastes, tinctures, plasters, for dyeing horn to imitate tortoiseshell, etc. It is very brittle, and breaks with an irregular, resinous fracture, is bright red and glossy inside, and darker red sometimes powdered with crimson, externally. Small, thin pieces are transparent.'

 'Doses of 10 to 30 grains were formerly given as an astringent in diarrhoea, etc., but officially it is never at present used internally, being regarded as inert.'

 King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Dragon's blood is a dark-red substance, which is imported from the East Indies, and which is procured from the berries of the Calamus Draco, by rubbing or agitating them in a bag, softening by heat the resinous exudation obtained, and making this up into masses. An inferior grade is obtained by boiling the crushed fruits in water (Pharmacographia). There are several sorts of it, one (Red dragon's blood), occurring in dark reddish-brown sticks, a foot or more in length, and from 3 to 6 lines in diameter, enveloped with palm leaves, and bound with narrow slips of cane; another occurs in reddish-brown lumps of the size and shape of an olive, also covered with leaves in a moniliform row; another, of very fine quality, is a reddish powder; a fourth occurs in large, irregular pieces or tears, while an inferior kind is in very large masses or lumps, Lump dragon's blood, presenting a heterogeneous fracture (P.).'

 'Dragon's blood is brittle, feebly sweetish, or almost tasteless, and odorless. It is not acted upon by water, but is almost all dissolved by alcohol, wood alcohol and ether, only impurities being left undissolved; partly soluble in chloroform and benzene. It fuses by heat, and emits a benzoic-acid-like fume on burning. Its solution stains marble a fine deep-red color.'

 'Dragon's blood was formerly considered an astringent, and used in doses of from 10 to 30 grains in passive hemorrhages, diarrhoea, etc. Its principal use is to color tooth powders, plasters, tinctures and varnishes, and to produce a mahogany wood-stain (aloes 1 part, dragon's blood 1 part, alcohol 15 parts).'
 


   Suggestions and Administrations:

  Functions:

 1. To stop bleeding and promote the healing of wounds;
 2. To invigorate blood and remove stagnation;
 3. To stop pain

  Indications & Combinations:

 1. Hemorrhages due to external injuries. Dragon's blood (Xuejie) can be taken alone for external use, or it can be combined with Cattail pollen (Puhuang).

 2. Chronic ulcers. Dragon's blood (Xuejie) is used with Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao) for external use.

 3. Swelling and pain due to blood stagnation caused by external injuries. Dragon's blood (Xuejie) is used with Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao) in the formula Qili San.


  Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.

 The following treatment is said to have cured cases of severe syphilis. Mix 2 drachms of Dragon's Blood, 2 drachms of colocynth, 1/2 oz. of gamboge in a mortar, and add 3 gills of boiling water. Stir for an hour, while keeping hot. Allow to cool, and add while stirring a mixture of 2 OZ. each of sweet spirits of nitre and copaiba balsam.

 Doses of 10 to 30 grains were formerly given as an astringent in diarrhoea, etc., but officially it is never at present used internally, being regarded as inert.
 Dosage:1/2 oz. for catharsis, followed by 1 drachm two or three times a day.

 Dragon's blood was formerly considered an astringent, and used in doses of from 10 to 30 grains in passive hemorrhages, diarrhoea, etc.

 Its principal use is to color tooth powders, plasters, tinctures and varnishes, and to produce a mahogany wood-stain (aloes 1 part, dragon's blood 1 part, alcohol 15 parts).

 Astringent in action. It is very useful in cases of irritation of the mucous membranes of the Pulmonary and Zenito Urinary Organs. It also checks bleeding with dysentery and diarrhea.

 Also Used For:

 Orally, dragon's blood is used for diarrhea, digestive disorders and as a coloring agent.

 Topically, dragon's blood is used as an astringent.

 For those who love Dragon's Blood we offer large chunk pieces of Gold Seal Dragon's Blood resin, also know as Cinnabar. Attributed to Heh and Pe by the Kabbalists (Aires and Mars) Dragons Blood is also an incense of Fire. It is especially good when mixed with other incense and acts as a boost to their potency. Dragon's Blood comes from the fruit of the Draco trees, and looks like boiling blood when you put it on the charcoal. A little Dragon's Blood goes a long way. Dragon's Blood magickal properties are: increased power, purifying, protection, consecration, ritual energy, personal strength, virility, victory, victorious celebrations, prosperity & it is a potency booster

  Cautions & Contraindications:

 This herb is contraindicated in the absence of signs of blood stagnation.

 According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.

 "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

  Safety note: Never leave unattended. Do not place container on flammable surface.

 Native Scents is a company centred in New Mexico, USA and is made up of a network of Native American wildcrafters from Canada to South America who collect plants in an ecological and respectful way. Wildcrafting is a term which means that the herbs and plants are collected in such a way that the source is sustainable. For example this means not pulling up root systems, harvesting just enough so that the plant will continue to thrive and generally caring for each plant source. Because of the scarcity of some of the traditional Native American herbs and plants we feel this attitude to be absolutely essential as some companies are actually damaging the environment because they are putting profit first.

 We consistently find their herbs and smudge sticks to be of the highest and most exquisite quality.


  Scientific References:

  1.Dragon's Blood,A resin derived from the fruit of Calamus Draco....