Guajacum officinale
Guaiacum officinale · Plant · Zygophyllaceae
Suited to the arthritic and rheumatic diathesis with marked stiffness and immobility of fibrous tissues. The constitutional type shows foul secretions, an unclean body odor, and joints that are contracted and painful. A characteristic modality is that rheumatic pains are distinctly worse from any form of heat and better from cold applications.
Key symptoms
- Immovable stiffness with constant desire to stretch for relief
- Contraction of limbs; gouty tophi of joints
- Rheumatic and arthritic pains worse from heat, better from cold
- Acute tonsillitis with dry, burning, swollen throat and stitches toward ear
- Free, foul secretions with unclean odor from whole body
- Gouty and rheumatic pain in head and face extending to neck
- Sensitiveness and aggravation from local heat
- Slow to comprehend; forgetful and staring
Worse (aggravation)
- Worse from heat of bed and hot weather
- Worse in summer
- Worse from motion
- Worse from cold air and pressure
- Worse after 6 p.m.
- Worse cold, wet weather (head pains)
Better (amelioration)
- Better from cold
- Better from rest
- Better lying down
Resin of Lignum Vitæ (GUAIACUM)
Chief action on fibrous tissue, and is especially adapted to the arthritic diathesis, rheumatism, and tonsillitis. Secondary syphilis. Very valuable in acute rheumatism. Free foul secretions. Unclean odor from whole body. Promotes suppuration of abscesses. Sensitiveness and aggravation from local heat. Contraction of limbs, stiffness and immobility. Feeling that he must stretch.
Mind
Forgetful; thoughtless; staring. Slow to comprehend.
Head
Gouty and rheumatic pain in head and face, extending to neck. Tearing pain in skull; worse, cold, wet weather. Feels swollen, and blood-vessels distended. Aching in left ear. Pains often end in a stitch, especially in head.
Eyes
Pupils dilated. Eyelids appear too short. Pimples around eyes.
Throat
Rheumatic sore throat with weak throat muscles. Throat dry, burns, swollen, stitches toward ear. Acute tonsillitis. Syphilitic sore throat.
Stomach
Tongue furred. Desire for apples and other fruits. Aversion to milk. Burning in stomach. Constricted epigastric region.
Abdomen
Intestinal fermentation. Much wind in bowels. Diarrhœa, cholera infantum.
Urinary
Sharp stitches after urinating. Constant desire.
Respiratory
Feels suffocated. Dry, tight cough. Fetid breath after coughing. Pleuritic stitches. Chest pains in articulations of ribs, with shortness of breathing till expectoration sets in.
Female
Ovaritis in rheumatic patients, with irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhœa, and irritable bladder.
Back
Pain from head to neck. Aching in nape. Stiff neck and sore shoulders. Stitches between scapulæ to occiput. Contractive pain between scapulæ.
Extremities
Rheumatic pain in shoulders, arms and hands. Growing pains (Phos ac). Pricking in nates. Sciatica and lumbago. Gouty tearing, with contractions. Immovable stiffness. Ankle pain extending up the leg, causing lameness. Joints swollen, painful, and intolerant of pressure; can bear no heat. Stinging pain in limbs. Arthritic lancinations followed by contraction of limbs. A feeling of heat in the affected limbs.
Modalities
Worse, from motion, heat, cold wet weather; pressure, touch, from 6 pm to 4 am. Better, external pressure.
Relationship
Guaiacol (in the treatment of gonorrhœal epididymitis, 2 parts to 30 vaselin, locally).
Antidote: Nux. Follow Sepia.
Compare: Merc; Caust; Rhus; Mezer; Rhodod.
Dose
Tincture, to sixth attenuation.
Phatak's chapter on Guajacum officinale is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
