Relating to or derived from guaiac, a resinous substance obtained from tropical trees, historically used in medicine and varnishes.
From Spanish guayaco, from Taíno (indigenous Caribbean language) guayacán; guaiaretic describes properties or substances related to this tree resin.
Guaiac resin was worth so much in medieval Europe that it was called 'holy wood'—people believed it cured syphilis, making it more valuable than gold for a while, which shows how fear of disease drives desperate medicine.
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