Dragons Blood Resin

COMMON NAME
Standardized: dragon's blood

BOTANICAL NAME
Daemonorops draco (Willd.) Blume

Plant Family: Arecaceae

INTRODUCTION
Dragon’s blood is a resin produced by the rattan palm tree, Daemonorops draco. It is native to Southeast Asia, appearing in tropical and subtropical climates and occurring on the Malay Archipelago, specifically cultivated in Sumatra. There are in fact many red resins colloquially known as dragon’s blood, many of which possess different properties and come from entirely different plants. The resin of Daemonorops draco is the most commercially available, and is the species provided by Mountain Rose Herbs.

SUMMARY
Dragon’s blood resin is often burned as incense, and its deep red pigment is used as a varnish and a dye. The resin is still used today in modern witchcraft where it is powdered down and used as an ink to write spells.

REFERENCES
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21073937
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20349349
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004938488390021X 
http://www.witchipedia.com/scent:dragon-s-blood