龙血竭

PHARMACEUTICAL NAME
Sanguis Draconis

BOTANICAL NAME
Dracaena Cochinensis

COMPOSITION
Resin of Dracaena Cochinensis

Ancient Chinese Herbal Medicine & Modern Day
Super Antioxidant

Blood Stasis

Blood stasis has been a well-documented concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years and scholars of TCM believe it to be the primary mechanism in the process of aging1*.  In the Chinese pharmacopoeia, Dragon’s Blood was originally named “Chinese unicorn blood” and as documented in the Tang Dynasty Herbal Foundation Cannon (Tang Ben Cao, 659 AD), “governs pathogenic qi of the five viscera, vaginal discharge, alleviates pain, breaks accumulations of blood, for incised wounds, and engenders flesh”. The Ming dynasty medical scholar Li Shizhen, one of the great pharmacologists of China, in his Herbal Foundation Compendium (Ben Cao Gang Mu, 1593), included long xue jie, what is now known as Dragon’s Blood.  He later referred to Dragon’s Blood as the “quicken blood miracle elixir” and ascribes to it the following functions: “breaks accumulations of blood, alleviates pain, engenders flesh, eliminates pathogenic qi of the 5 viscera, supplements vacuity, boosts yang essence, disperses various malign sores and scab sores, and dissipates static blood pain”.  Many disease mechanisms may give rise to blood stasis, not only trauma/injury.  For example in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, it is stated, “If cold qi visits, the vessels will become blocked2”.  The TCM statement of fact, “the myriad diseases arise out of stasis” also sums up this concept.  Hence, one can understand the use of Dragon’s Blood as being extremely effective in the treatment of difficult and knotty disorders.

Modern research has revealed that this ancient Chinese herbal medicine is also a super antioxidant.  Its total antioxidant capacity surpasses that of many products.  Antioxidants defend against biological damages caused by free-radicals from daily exposures to chemicals, pollutants, electromagnetic radiation, alcohol, tobacco smoke, stress and overwork, and processed foods.  Of the many diseases that afflict mankind, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, degenerative brain diseases, etc. many are coincident with the increase of free radicals.  By increasing daily intake of foods and supplements high in antioxidants you can help defend yourself and your patients against diseases and premature aging that are related to the damage caused by free-radicals.

Common ORAC Values
The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay measures the free radical scavenging capacity.  The USDA recommends 3,000 – 5,000 ORAC units per day to have a significant impact on the prevention of age-related diseases.  This is approximately 5 servings of fruits and 5 servings of vegetables.  Most Americans, however, only consume about 1,200 ORAC units daily.

Note the following foods are rated per 100g.
Dragon’s Blood @ 4 - 300mg capsules (total 1.2g), will provide more than 4,400 ORAC units.

Dragon’s Blood ORAC total – 3,686 (mmoleTE/g)3
(368,600 (mmoleTE/100g))

TOP ORAC FRUITS
[PER 100 GRAMS OR 3.5 OUNCES]
Wolf Berry---------25,300
Prunes--------------5,770
Pomegranates-----3,307
Raisins-------------2,830
Blueberries---------2,400
Blackberries--------2,036
Cranberries---------1,750
Strawberries--------1,540
Raspberries---------1,220
Plums-----------------949
Oranges---------------750
Grapes, Red-----------739
Cherries----------------670
Kiwi fruit---------------610

Grapefruit, pink-------495
Grapes, White---------460
Cantaloupe-------------250
Banana------------------210
Apple--------------------207
Apricot------------------175
Peach--------------------170

TOP ORAC VEGETABLES
[PER 100 GRAMS OR 3.5 OUNCES]
Kale-----------------1,770
Garlic clove---------1,662
Spinach--------------1,260
Yellow Squash------1,150
Brussels sprouts-----980
Alfalfa sprouts--------930
Steamed Spinach-----909
Broccoli Flowers-------890
Beets-------------------840
Avocado--------------782
Red bell pepper-------710
Beans, Baked---------503
Beans, Kidney--------460
Onion------------------450
Corn-------------------400
Eggplant--------------390
Cauliflower-----------385
Peas, Frozen---------375
Potato----------------300
Sweet Potato--------295
Cabbage--------------295
Leaf Lettuce----------265
Tofu-------------------205
Carrot-----------------200
String Beans---------200
Tomato---------------195
Zucchini--------------176

1 Aging and Blood Stasis by Yan Dexin as translated by Tang Guoshun and Bob Flaws; Blue Poppy Press 1995; ISBN 0-936185-63-6; p. 1

2 Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, “Elementary Questions” volume, “A Discussion on the Whole of Pain” chapter.

3 National Laboratories, K. Pappalardo, J. Frietas, and Boxin Ou, 1/02/2007.