Guaiacum – Gum Guaiac

The mother tincture is prepared from the resin which is melted out of the heart- wood of Guaiacum officinale L. or Guaiacum sanctum L. N.O. Zygophyllaceae.

Rheumatoid pains of a stabbing, tearing kind in various parts of the body consti- tute a major symptom of Guaiacum. Pronounced gouty affections of the joints also react to Guaiacum, especially if there is aggravation in the morning and evening with great sleepiness in the daytime, much yawning and a need to stretch the limbs. All the affected parts are sensitive to touch.

All the complaints are aggravated by warmth; however, pains which are localised in the bones, muscles or tendons are generally relieved by warmth.

Guaiacum can also act favourably on exostoses of the tibia, when there is sensitiv- ity on the slightest movement, and also in left-sided frozen shoulder.

Guaiacum is also indicated in neuralgias and facial pains with swimming in the head and vertigo, tearing pains in various parts of the skull and pulsating, stabbing pains in the temples. This is accompanied by weakness of memory and a peevish, irascible mood with taciturnity.

Fluent coryza may last for weeks. Guaiacum is indicated as a supporting remedy in laryngeal catarrhs, and bronchial catarrhs with difficult respiration and offensive expectoration, chronic bronchiectasis and also pulmonary tuberculosis.

Gastric complaints are characterised by empty eructations and nausea, and a sen- sation of pressure and heat in the stomach. These are accompanied by loss of ap- petite and disgust for food, with episodes of unaccustomed hunger and strong thirst. In the genito-urinary system there are inflammatory conditions with tenesmus of the bladder, urine passed drop by drop, and cutting pains in the urethra, also leucor-

rhoea and nocturnal seminal emissions.

Essentially Guaiacum is used in rheumatic and gouty complaints in the head and limbs, in catarrhal conditions, in bronchitis, tonsillitis and muscular spasms of the intestines and bladder.

If the main symptoms of Guaiacum are summarised, the result is the following typical remedy-picture:

1. Gout with sensation of heat. Movement and heat are intolerable. Muscles as if too short.
2. Exostoses (tibia). Sensitivity to slightest movement. Left sided frozen shoulder.
3. Facial pain and neuralgia. Swimming in the head. Weakness of memory. Peevish, irascible mood.
4. Gastric complaints. Burning and irritation of the mucosa (oral). Strong thirst. Pressure and heat in the stomach. Spastic intestinal movements and twitching of abdominal muscles. Rumbling in the intestines. Soft faeces or constipation with frequent flatus. Craving for apples, which ameliorate the gastric complaints.
5. Tenesmus of the bladder with urine passed drop by drop and cutting pains in the urethra. Nocturnal seminal emissions. Leucorrhoea.
6. Bronchiectasis. Bronchitis. Pleurisy. Supporting remedy in pulmonary tuberculo- sis. Cough with offensive expectoration.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Guaiacum, published the fol- lowing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for guaiacum: inflammation of palatine tonsils and pharynx; bronchial and pulmonary inflammationi rheumatism; gout.