There are many plants with a sap/resin called 'Sangre de Grado'...... and most of them are just misspelled.
The plant we are working with is specifically Croton lechleri. In peru the common name is Sangre de Grado, In other countries it is sometimes spelled Sangre de Drago. Both Grado and Drago mean dragon and of course sange is blood. In English both translate to dragons blood.
The African Dragons Blood is a hard resin that is blood red and is used mostly in witchcraft as a "magic" ingrediant. The ancient name is associated with the power of blood from evil dragons.
The Peruvian Dragons Blood is a liquid that the Natives of the Amazon have used for as long as anyone knows. It is only used as a cure for certain health problems. It was known well to the Incas who traded high elevation herbs for to the rain forest natives for it.
The name Sangre de Grado was given by the Spanish Conquistadors when they invaded the Peruvian Amazon in search of El Dorado. The Spaniards tried to penetrate the low Amazonian forest and experienced extreme health issues, many were dieing from infections both external and internal. They encountered a peaceful native tribe that offered them health care. The native healers gave them the red liquid and like "magic" their health improved and their lives were saved. Of course the Spanish wanted to know what the liquid was so they were shown the Croton tree and told the liquid was from the tree. The Native healer showed them how to obtain the resin in the correct way which for Natives includes a prayer or chant asking for the help from the tree. Then the tree was cut with a knife and it bled red blood, it bleeds quickly just as if it was an animal being cut. The Spaniard leader exclaimed it was Sangre de Grado! The tree was in reality a dragon sleeping in disguise, and it was a good dragon sent to protect the Spaniards. Thus the name Dragons Blood.
Sadly after the Spaniards recovered with the help of the Natives, they mascaraed the Natives because they did not have the gold of El Dorado and they were heathens. This story was extracted from the journal of the priest that was with the Spaniards to there probably is a degree of truth to it, in any case it is interesting.
