Botanical Index No. 480

Guaiacum

guaiacum officinale

Medicinal Actions

Antiinflammatory, Antirheumatic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Hypoglycemic, Laxative

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Adenopathy Amenorrhea Angina Arthrosis Asthma Cachexia Catarrh Constipation Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Exanthema Fever Fracture Fungus Gonorrhea Gout Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Infection Inflammation Itch Lumbago Mycosis Ophthalmia Pain Pharyngosis Pleurosis Psoriasis Respirosis Rheumatism Scabies Scrofula Splenosis Stiffness Syphilis Tonsilosis Tuberculosis Water Retention

General Dosage

1–2 g wood in tea 3 ×/day; 4.5 g wood/day; 6–9 tsp wood in tea; 1.5 g wood/cold water, up to 5 g/day; 1–2 ml liquid extract 3 ×/day; 0.3–2 g; 2–4 ml tincture.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages”. None known. CAN caution that the lignans are allergenic and may cause dermatosis. Recommended that people with allergy, hypersensitive or acute inflammatory conditions avoid it. Avoid use when pregnant or lactating. High doses may cause colic, diarrhea, and other GI complaints. Resin LD50 = >5000 mg/kg orl rat.

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