Herb

Xue Jie

Dragon's blood sap | 血竭

Also known as:

Dragon's Blood Resin

Xue Jie

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Properties

Blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling herbs (活血化瘀药) · Neutral

Traditionally supports*

Injury and Trauma Recovery Skin and Wound Care Pain Management Menstrual Health

Parts Used

Resin / Sap (树脂 shù zhī / 汁 zhī)

*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.

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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

Blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling herbs (活血化瘀药) Herbs that transform stasis and stop bleeding (化瘀止血药)

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

Chest Pain

Fixed, stabbing chest or abdominal pain from Blood stasis

Bruising

Bruising and swelling from traumatic injury

Painful Periods

Menstrual pain with dark clotted blood

Abdominal Pain

Postpartum abdominal pain from retained stasis

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Salty (咸 xián)

Channels Entered
Heart Liver
Parts Used

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

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

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Botanical & Sourcing

Quality Indicators

Good quality Xue Jie should have an exterior that is dark red to blackish-red with a glossy surface. When ground into powder, it should produce a vivid, bright blood-red color (a key quality test: 'black as iron on the outside, red as blood when ground'). When heated or burned, authentic Xue Jie melts without leaving oily stains on paper, appears a vivid blood-red color when held up to light, and produces an acrid, pungent smoke. The resin should be hard and brittle with a smooth, glass-like fracture surface, sometimes showing small pores. It has little to no aroma, a faintly sweet and salty taste, and a gritty, sandy texture when chewed. It should be insoluble in water (water should not become colored when the powder is shaken in it) but fully soluble in 95% hot ethanol. Incomplete dissolution in ethanol suggests adulteration with red clay, iron oxide, rosin, or plant debris.

Primary Growing Regions

The official pharmacopoeia source, Daemonorops draco, is native to the tropical islands of Indonesia, primarily Sumatra (Jambi, Aceh, Riau provinces) and Borneo. It is also found in Malaysia and Iran. Small-scale cultivation exists in Guangdong and Taiwan provinces of China. As an imported commodity, Xue Jie does not have a traditional Chinese 'terroir' (道地药材) region. The highest quality raw (unprocessed) resin comes directly from Indonesian sources. Much of the commercially available product undergoes secondary processing in Singapore before reaching the Chinese market. A domestic Chinese substitute, Long Xue Jie (龙血竭), is produced from Dracaena cochinchinensis in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. While used clinically, it is a distinct product from the pharmacopoeia-defined Xue Jie.

Harvesting Season

Autumn (August to December), when fruits have matured approximately 9 months after flowering and resin content is at its peak.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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Miscellaneous Info

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Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

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Instructions for safe storage and consumption

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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

1-2g

Maximum

Up to 2g for internal use as ground powder or in pill form. Do not exceed this dosage for oral administration. External use amounts are adjusted as needed for the wound or affected area.

Notes

Xue Jie is not typically used in standard decoctions because the resin does not dissolve well in water. It is almost always taken as ground powder (swallowed directly, often with warm wine or water), incorporated into pills, or used externally as powder applied to wounds or mixed into plaster formulations. For internal use treating Blood stasis pain (traumatic injuries, dysmenorrhea, abdominal stasis pain): 1-2g ground powder taken orally, typically 1-3 times daily. For external use (wound healing, non-healing ulcers, hemorrhoids): an appropriate amount of fine powder is sprinkled directly on the wound or mixed into ointment formulations. There is no fixed upper limit for external application. The classical formula Qi Li San (七厘散) uses Xue Jie as the chief ingredient at a proportion of 500g per batch, with an oral dose of 1-1.5g of the finished powder taken 1-3 times daily.

Processing Methods

Processing method

The raw resin is wiped clean of dust, broken into small pieces, dried in a lime jar during dry winter weather until brittle, and then ground into a fine powder. As stated in the Léi Gōng Pào Zhì Lùn, it should be ground and sieved separately and not pounded together with other herbs, as it would become airborne dust.

How it changes properties

This is not a true change of properties but rather the standard preparation method. The grinding into fine powder is essential because the resin is too hard and sticky to decoct, and it cannot be boiled. The powdered form allows it to be dissolved in warm liquid for internal use or applied directly to wounds for external use. Temperature, taste, and actions remain unchanged.

When to use this form

This is the standard and essentially only form used. Xuè Jié is always ground into powder before use, whether being taken internally (dissolved in warm wine or water, or pressed into pills) or applied externally to wounds.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

Xue Jie is classified as non-toxic in the modern Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Some older classical sources recorded it as having 'slight toxicity' (有小毒), but modern pharmacological testing has shown this to be inaccurate. Animal studies with continuous administration of both imported palm-derived Dragon's Blood and domestically produced Guangxi Dragon's Blood over 90 days showed no significant organ damage, and no abnormalities in blood cells or liver and kidney function. However, allergic reactions to orally ingested Xue Jie have been documented. Symptoms can include generalized itching, skin flushing, angioedema, blistering, facial swelling, shortness of breath, and drops in blood pressure. A patch test may be advisable before first internal use. These reactions are idiosyncratic allergic responses rather than dose-dependent toxicity.

Contraindications

Avoid

Pregnancy: Xue Jie actively moves Blood and disperses stasis, which could potentially stimulate uterine contractions or disrupt fetal development. It should not be used during pregnancy.

Caution

Active menstruation with heavy flow: as a Blood-moving herb, Xue Jie may increase menstrual bleeding when there is no underlying Blood stasis. Use with caution during menstrual periods.

Avoid

Known allergy to Xue Jie: documented cases exist of allergic reactions including urticaria, angioedema, skin blistering, facial swelling, dyspnea, and hypotension after oral ingestion. A patch test is advisable before first internal use.

Caution

Bleeding disorders without Blood stasis: Xue Jie is best suited for bleeding that involves underlying stasis. In patients with bleeding due to pure Heat in the Blood or deficiency without stasis, it should be used cautiously and only in appropriate combination.

Caution

Absence of Blood stasis: as a potent stasis-dispersing substance, Xue Jie should not be used when there is no underlying stasis pattern. Classical sources warn it is 'acute in nature' and should not be taken in excess, as it can draw pus in wound conditions.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Xue Jie is a potent Blood-moving and stasis-dispersing substance. Its ability to vigorously activate Blood circulation poses a risk of stimulating uterine contractions and potentially causing miscarriage or premature labor. Classical sources and modern textbooks consistently list pregnancy as a contraindication. The formula Qi Li San (七厘散), which contains Xue Jie as a chief ingredient, is also explicitly contraindicated in pregnancy in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Breastfeeding

Insufficient data on safety during breastfeeding. While Xue Jie is primarily used externally or in small doses as powder (1-2g), its Blood-moving properties raise theoretical concerns about bioactive compounds passing into breast milk. External use on areas away from the breast is generally considered acceptable. Internal use should be approached with caution and only under practitioner guidance during breastfeeding.

Pediatric Use

Not commonly used in pediatric practice. If prescribed for children (typically for external wound healing), dosage should be proportionally reduced based on age and body weight. External application of powdered Xue Jie to wounds is considered safer than internal use for children. Internal use in children should only be under strict practitioner supervision, given the herb's potent Blood-moving properties and the documented potential for allergic reactions.

Drug Interactions

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications: Xue Jie has demonstrated antiplatelet aggregation effects and influences fibrinolytic activity in pharmacological studies. Concurrent use with warfarin, heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, or other blood-thinning medications may theoretically increase the risk of bleeding. Patients on anticoagulant therapy should avoid Xue Jie or use it only under close medical supervision with appropriate monitoring of coagulation parameters.

No other well-documented pharmaceutical interactions have been established. However, classical sources note that Xue Jie should not be taken with strongly acidic or alkaline foods or substances, as these may alter the resin's solubility and affect its therapeutic activity.

Dietary Advice

Avoid strongly acidic or alkaline foods while taking Xue Jie internally, as these may interfere with the resin's properties and reduce its effectiveness. Warm rice wine has been traditionally used as a vehicle for taking Xue Jie powder to enhance its Blood-moving effects. In general, avoid cold and raw foods when using Blood-moving herbs, as cold constricts the channels and may counteract the herb's stasis-dispersing action.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this formula is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.