Guaiacum

Guaiac

Guaiac. Gayac, Fr.; Franzosenholz, Ger.

Guaiaci Lignum

Guaiacum-wood. The heart-wood of Guaiacum officinale Linné, and of G. sanctum Linné (Nat. Ord. Zygophylleae).

Guiaci Resina

Guaiac. A peculiar resin obtained from Guaiacum officinale.

Tinctura Guaiaci. Tincture of guaiac. (Guaiac, 200 grm.; alcohol, to 1,000 c. c.) Dose, 3 ss — 3 ij.

Tinctura Guaici Ammoniata

Ammoniated tincture of guaiac. (Guaiac, 200 grm.; aromat. spirit of ammonia, to 1,000 c. c.) Dose, 3 ss — 3 ij.

Composition

The only constituent of interest in the wood is the resin. Guaiac has a complex chemical composition. It contains gua-iaconic acid (seventy per cent), guaiarec acid, guaiac beta-resin, guaia-cic acid, guaiac yellow, gum, etc.

Antagonists and Incompatibles

Spirits of nitrous ether and the mineral acids are incompatible.

Synergists

Agents which promote cutaneous activity are synergistic. The action of guaiac is much aided by external warmth and warm diluent drinks.

Physiological Effects

Guaiac has a very acid and pungent taste. It excites an abundant flow of saliva. In the stomach it creates a sensation of warmth and burning, increases the secretions of the gastro-intestinal canal, accelerates the action of the heart, promotes diaphoresis, and favors the production and excretion of bronchial mucus. In large doses it deranges digestion and causes gastric catarrh, and in excessive doses the series of symptoms produced by the irritant poisons, vomiting, purging, cramps, headache, giddiness, etc.

Therapy

Formerly guaiac was in great repute as a remedy for constitutional syphilis. The decoction was drunk in large quantity, a very spare diet was enjoined, and the diaphoretic action of the remedy was aided by external warmth. Doubtless many cases were benefited by this mode of treatment, but the result was probably less due to guaiac per se than to the regimen.

Its present use as an anti-syphilitic remedy is confined to the preparations of sarsaparilla, in which it enters as a constituent.

Recent clinical experience has shown that guaiac is a capital remedy in tonsillitis. Given in a half-drachm dose (tincture) every four hours, it appears to abate the inflammation and to cut short the disease in a remarkable manner. It is a very acrid and disagreeable remedy, and should be given in emulsion, with mucilage or yolk of egg.

Guaiac is a useful remedy in dysmenorrhoea, when the pain is due to rheumatism or neuralgia, and is of course not adapted to those cases in which there is narrowing of the cervical canal.

Lastly, guaiac is used with varying degrees of success in chronic gout, chronic rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, gouty bronchitis, etc. As we have so many more efficient and pleasant remedies for these diseases, it will rarely be necessary to resort to guaiac.

Authorities referred to:

Carter, Mr. The Practitioner, vol. iv, p. 190.

Fluckiger and Hanbury. Pharmacographia, p. 92, et seq.

Huskmann, Drs. Aug. und Theo. Die Pflanzenstoffe, p. 712.

Stille, Dr. A. Therapeutics and Materia Medica, fourth edition, vol. ii, p. 594.