About This Herb*
Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties
Herb Description*
Dragon's blood resin is a deep red resin prized in Chinese medicine for its ability to move stagnant Blood, relieve pain, stop bleeding, and promote wound healing. It has been called the "holy medicine for harmonising Blood" and is most widely used in trauma and injury formulas, as well as for chronic non-healing wounds and sores. It can be taken internally in small powdered doses or applied externally to wounds.
Herb Category*
Main Actions*
- Invigorates Blood and Alleviates Pain
- Dispels Stasis and Stops Bleeding
- Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores
How These Actions Work*
'Invigorates Blood and relieves pain' means Xuè Jié actively moves stagnant Blood and unblocks the channels, which reduces swelling and pain. This is why it has been a core ingredient in trauma medicine for centuries. It is especially suited to pain from physical injuries such as falls, fractures, sprains, and contusions, as well as internal Blood stasis causing chest or abdominal stabbing pain, painful periods, or postpartum abdominal pain from retained Blood clots.
'Dispels stasis and stops bleeding' describes its unique dual action: it breaks up old, stagnant Blood while simultaneously helping to stop active bleeding. Because it resolves stasis as it stops bleeding, it does not trap old Blood inside the body the way purely astringent hemostatics can. This makes it particularly valuable for traumatic bleeding and upper digestive tract bleeding, where both stopping the bleed and clearing the stasis are important.
'Promotes tissue regeneration and heals sores' refers to its ability to encourage new tissue growth, protect wound surfaces, and help stubborn, non-healing ulcers and sores close up. Applied externally as a powder or mixed into ointments, it forms a protective layer over wounds, prevents infection, and accelerates healing. This action is used for chronic skin ulcers, hemorrhoids, and surgical wounds that are slow to close.
Patterns Addressed*
In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Xue Jie is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.
The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.
Why Xue Jie addresses this pattern
Xuè Jié's sweet and salty tastes guide it directly into the Blood level of the Heart and Liver channels, where it powerfully invigorates Blood and disperses stasis. Its neutral temperature means it can be used in Blood Stagnation regardless of whether there is accompanying Heat or Cold. By breaking up congealed Blood and reopening the channels, it directly addresses the core pathomechanism of Blood Stagnation: obstruction of Blood flow causing fixed, stabbing pain, swelling, and tissue damage. Li Shizhen described it as acting on the Jueyin channels (Liver and Pericardium), which both govern Blood, making it particularly focused on the Blood level compared to herbs like frankincense and myrrh that also enter the Qi level.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Fixed, stabbing chest or abdominal pain from Blood stasis
Bruising and swelling from traumatic injury
Menstrual pain with dark clotted blood
Postpartum abdominal pain from retained stasis
Why Xue Jie addresses this pattern
This pattern involves stagnant Blood obstructing the Uterus, causing painful periods, absent periods, or postpartum pain with retained clots. Xuè Jié enters the Liver channel, which governs the free flow of Blood to the Uterus, and its Blood-invigorating action directly breaks up the stasis that causes these symptoms. Its ability to both move stagnant Blood and stop abnormal bleeding makes it especially suited to gynecological stasis patterns where there may also be irregular or excessive bleeding alongside the stasis.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Severe cramping with dark, clotted menstrual blood
Amenorrhea from Blood stasis obstruction
Sharp abdominal pain after childbirth
Why Xue Jie addresses this pattern
When sores, ulcers, or abscesses persist and fail to heal, they often involve a combination of residual toxins, local Blood stasis, and tissue damage. Xuè Jié addresses the stasis component, moving stagnant Blood away from the wound to allow fresh Blood and nutrients to reach the damaged tissue. Its tissue-regenerating action promotes the growth of new flesh and helps close stubborn wounds. Used externally as a powder or in ointments, it forms a protective barrier that also has documented antifungal and antibacterial properties, supporting the body's natural healing process.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Chronic non-healing skin ulcers
Traumatic wounds slow to close
Painful hemorrhoids with swelling
TCM Properties*
Neutral
Sweet (甘 gān), Salty (咸 xián)
Resin / Sap (树脂 shù zhī / 汁 zhī)
This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page
*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.