Guaiacum
Guaiacum officinale · Lignum vitae,Guaiacum officinale · Plant · Zygophyllaceae
Guaiacum is most appropriate for narrow-minded people who tend to be obstinate, overcritical, and inflexible. This mental rigidity is mirrored by a fixation of the joints. The remedy is most commonly used for great arthritic or rheumatic joint pain, especially in the wrists. Arthritic pain may feel worse for heat, and there may also be a sensation of swelling, tension, and tautness in the muscles, as if they are too short. There is a strong desire to yawn and stretch. In children, the remedy profile may include growing pains.
Key symptoms
- Gout and rheumatism with immovable stiffness and contraction of tendons
- Gouty nodosities on joints; contraction of tendons causing deformity
- Acts on mucous membranes, muscles, joints, and bones
- Growing pains; osteomalachia; bone caries
- Scrofulous glandular swellings prone to suppuration
- Fetid breath and offensive body odor
- Pharyngitis and tonsillitis with tendency to suppuration
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
This is a very deep acting remedy, even deep enough to cure the symptoms of and turn into order a constitution that is rheumatic, gouty, and has inherited phthisis.
Rheumatism
These patients are subject to diarrhoea; the tendons are too short, or they have abscesses, catarrhal troubles, bronchitis. Drawing, tension and contractions of muscular fibre. Sore swollen joints.
The rheumatic joints are more painful from warmth (Lac c., Led., Puls) and more comfortable when cool. Gouty abscesses of joints. The bones become spongy, or suppurate. The leg and ankle bones are especially affected. Sensitive periosteum.
Stitching pains are characteristic, and burning is as marked as in Arsenicum. Limbs contracted and stiff. The excretions are all offensive. Drawing, tearing pains. His cold settles in the limbs, and the joints become sore and the muscles draw. His suffering is increased by the slightest motion or exertion.
Gum guaiacum. Guaiacum officinale. The gum-resin of Lignum sanctum or Lignum vitæ, a large tree growing in W. Indies. N. O. Zygophyllaceæ. Tincture of the gum-resin.
Clinical
Abscess. Amenorrhœa. Aneurism. Bones, affections of. Bronchitis. Caries. Cholera infantum. Constipation. Contraction. Cough. Diarrhœa. Diphtheria. Dysmenorrhœa. Earache. Emaciation. Fever. Gout. Growing-pains. Headache, internal and external. Hernia. Membranous dysmenorrhœa, Mercury, effects of. Neuralgia. Osteomalachia. Otitis. Ovaries, inflammation of. Phthisis. Pleurisy. Pleurodynia. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Stomach, affections of. Syphilis. Throat, affections of. Tonsillitis. Toothache. Torticollis. Vomiting.
Sight and Eyes
Sensation of protruding and swelling of the eyes; the lids seem too short to cover them.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
