Photo: Rod Waddington / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Khun Kharba खून खराबा
Dracaena cinnabari
Part used: Resin
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Dracaena cinnabari
- Part used: Resin
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Resin powder 500 mg – 2 g per day within a compound; externally applied as required.
Khun Kharba in other languages
Introduction
Khun Kharba is dragon's blood, the deep red resin that bleeds from the trunk of Dracaena cinnabari, the dragon tree of Socotra. The name in Hindi means, literally, spoiled blood.
It is not a botanical crude drug in the usual sense but a hardened exudate, used across Ayurvedic, Unani and European practice as an astringent and wound drug.
Classification
Family Asparagaceae. The dried resin exudate is officinal. Rasa: Kashaya, Tikta. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha. Virya: Sheeta. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Pitta and Kapha.
Uses & benefits
Used in bleeding disorders, diarrhoea and dysentery for its astringency, and applied externally to wounds, ulcers and bleeding gums. In this catalogue it appears in Arshoghani Vati, a preparation for piles, where its Raktastambhaka action is the point.
Dragon's blood for bleeding
Strongly astringent, it is used in bleeding piles and in Raktapitta, and applied directly to bleeding surfaces.
Dragon's blood for wounds
Applied as a powder or in ointment to ulcers and slow-healing wounds, where it dries and protects the surface.
Dosage — how much to take
Resin powder 500 mg – 2 g per day within a compound; externally applied as required.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Khun Kharba?
The citations held for Khun Kharba in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Karpuradi Varga).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Khun Kharba?
Red resins grouped among the astringent, blood-settling drugs. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga.
What is Khun Kharba traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Used in bleeding disorders, diarrhoea and dysentery for its astringency, and applied externally to wounds, ulcers and bleeding gums. In this catalogue it appears in Arshoghani Vati, a preparation for piles, where its Raktastambhaka action is the point.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Khun Kharba?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Khun Kharba classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Khun Kharba carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Khun Kharba is used medicinally?
The part used is Resin.
How much Khun Kharba is taken, and how?
Resin powder 500 mg – 2 g per day within a compound; externally applied as required. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Khun Kharba be avoided?
Well tolerated. Dracaena cinnabari is endemic to Socotra, is classed as vulnerable and its habitat is in decline — sourcing should be documented. Several unrelated red resins are sold as dragon's blood, including Daemonorops and Croton species, so material varies. Astringent, so heavy internal use may constipate.
Where does Khun Kharba grow?
Endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen. Commercial material is imported, and substitutes from other genera are common in trade.
Classical references
- Unani and Ayurvedic materia medica — Dam-al-akhwain / Khun Kharaba
Long-established astringent and wound resin in both traditions. - Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga
Red resins grouped among the astringent, blood-settling drugs.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated. Dracaena cinnabari is endemic to Socotra, is classed as vulnerable and its habitat is in decline — sourcing should be documented. Several unrelated red resins are sold as dragon's blood, including Daemonorops and Croton species, so material varies. Astringent, so heavy internal use may constipate.
Where it grows
Endemic to the island of Socotra, Yemen. Commercial material is imported, and substitutes from other genera are common in trade.
Frequently asked questions
Is dragon's blood from a dragon tree only?
The classical source is Dracaena cinnabari from Socotra, but red resins from Daemonorops palms and some Croton species are also sold under the name. Material differs, so the source matters.
Is it a plant part?
It is a hardened resin that bleeds from the trunk, not a root, bark or leaf.
