Investigative Therapies for CF:

Rain Forest Medicine
Thirdage News Service
June 07, 2000

The tree sap known as Sangre de Grado, or "dragon's blood," has been used for
centuries by Amazon River basin dwellers to cure diarrhea and many other
maladies. New research indicates that the thick, red sap harvested from South
American trees is also a powerful painkiller and anti-inflammatory.

Dr. Mark Miller, professor of pediatrics and cardiovascular diseases at
Albany (N.Y.) Medical College, says that animal tests showed that Sangre de
Grado halts the activation of nerve fibers that send pain signals to the
brain and blocks tissue response to a chemical that leads to inflammation.
The sap has the same effect on gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers,
gastritis and diarrhea, Miller said in a news release issued by Albany
Medical Center.

In various trials, dragon's blood has also proven to be an effective topical
treatment for minor cuts. When a few drops are placed on a bleeding wound,
the sap rapidly helps stop blood flow by forming a "liquid bandage." This
makes dragon's blood a useful remedy to have in the medicine cabinet.

In other research, Louisiana pest control workers involved in a three-month
test last year reported relief from fire ant bites and bee stings within 90
seconds of applying Sangre de Grado, Miller said. There are signs that the
sap could be useful in treating pulmonary diseases such as asthma and cystic
fibrosis, as well as arthritis and other inflammatory problems, he added.

Cystic Fibrosis Information