Guaiac Wood

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Interactions
• Dosing

Guaiac is a tree. The wood and sap (resin) are used to prepare medicinal extracts. Be careful not to confuse guaiac wood or guaiac resin with guaiac wood oil.

People take guaiac wood for muscle and joint pain (rheumatism), breathing problems, skin disorders, and syphilis. It is also used for preventing gout.

Guaiac wood is used in mouthwashes to kill bacteria.

In the laboratory, guaiac resin is used in tests for finding hidden blood in urine and stool.

As a flavoring agent, guaiac wood is used in foods and in edible oils and fats.

How does it work?

There isn’t enough information to know how guaiac wood or resin might work.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Rheumatism.
• Gout.
• Lung problems.
• Skin problems.
• Syphilis.
• Use in mouthwashes.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of guaiac wood or guaiac resin for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Guaiac wood and guaiac resin seem to be safe for most adults in the amounts found in foods and in small medicinal doses. Higher doses can cause some side effects including diarrhea and stomach and intestinal problems. Guaiac wood and guaiac resin can also cause skin rashes.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of guaiac wood and guaiac resin during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Swelling (inflammation): Don’t use guaiac wood or guaiac resin if you have any condition that involves swelling.

---

LithiumInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Guaiac wood and resin might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking guaiac wood and resin might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.

The appropriate dose of guaiac wood depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for guaiac wood. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.