Guajaci lignum

Wood from the guaiac plant, also known as French wood or guaiac wood, is a medicinal substance that has been used in herbal remedies for the supportive treatment of rheumatic conditions. It was also formerly used to treat syphilis, the so-called “French disease,” hence the name “French wood.” The name “smallpox wood” derives from its presumed effectiveness against smallpox. 

Today, it is included in preparations for sore throats and throat pain, such as Tonsipret^®.

Guajaci lignum contains 25% guaiac resin in the dark heartwood and about 3% resin in the yellowish-white sapwood, which consists of alpha- and beta-guaiaconic acid, guajaret acid and guaiaconic acid. Other ingredients are essential oil, phytosterol resin, triterpene type saponins and 12 to 15 % lignans.

Guajaci lignum has antiphlogistic, spasmolytic and diuretic effects. The antiphlogistic effect is achieved by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase by lignans and guajazules. Guaiartes acid suppresses the NO formation by neutrophil granulocytes that occurs during the inflammatory reaction.

Guaiac wood is used as a supporting treatment for rheumatic complaints.

The average daily dose is 4.5 g of the drug.

There are no known adverse effects.

There are no known contraindications.

^Tonsipret®

Guaiac Wood Ointment, 

1. Schilcher, H. (2016). Guide to Phytotherapy. Urban & Fischer Verlag, Munich, p. 147 ff.
2. https://www.phytothek.de/arzneipflanzenlexikon/