What is Chrysarobinum?

Chrysarobinum is a single homeopathic remedy, not a blend. It is made from Goa powder, a yellow dust from the wood of the araroba tree (Andira araroba) in Brazil. It is also called Goa powder or chrysarobin.

Homeopaths give it mainly for dry, scaly, itchy skin and for sore, crusty eyelids. The powder is diluted again and again, a step called serial dilution. At 30C, no source material is left in the pill or drop.

Trials do not show that this remedy works better than a dummy pill. Traditional use is not proof that something works. Tradition and proof are two separate things, and this page reports both.

How does Chrysarobinum work?

Homeopathy rests on one idea. A substance that causes signs in raw form is given in tiny form to treat those same signs.

Raw Goa powder burns and reddens skin. It can also make the eyelids sore. So homeopaths give the dilute form for red, scaly, itchy skin and crusty eyelids.

There is no known way this could act in the body. At 30C the source material is gone. Tests do not tell the remedy apart from a placebo (a dummy pill).

What forms does Chrysarobinum come in?

Most products are sugar pellets, tablets or liquid drops. Common strengths are 6C, 12C and 30C. A higher number means more dilution and less chance of any source material.

Low strengths such as 1X or 3X may still hold raw powder. These can irritate skin and the gut.

Raw Goa powder creams and chrysarobin ointments are a different product. They are strong skin drugs, not homeopathy, and should not be mixed up with the pellets.

Where it comes from:

Goa powder was used in Brazil on ringworm and scaly skin. It reached Goa in India by trade, which is how it got its common name. British doctors in India used it through the 1800s.

It worked well enough on scaly rashes to become a standard skin drug of that era. It also burned skin and stained everything it touched, so safer drugs replaced it.

Homeopaths took the powder up in the late 1800s. It holds a small, niche place in their books, mostly for skin and eyelid complaints.

What does Chrysarobinum help with?

• Dry, scaly patches of skin: This is the main use in homeopathic books. The books were written from symptom pictures, not trials. No study has tested the remedy for scaly skin.
• Psoriasis-type rashes: Raw Goa powder was a real skin drug for this long ago. That does not carry over to the diluted remedy. No trial has tested Chrysarobinum 30C for psoriasis.
• Ringworm (a fungal skin rash): The raw powder had some effect on fungal rashes in the 1800s. The homeopathic dilution has not been tested this way. Ringworm that spreads needs a proven antifungal cream from a pharmacy or doctor.
• Eczema (itchy, inflamed skin): Homeopaths pick it when skin is dry, thick and flaky rather than weeping. This comes from tradition alone. There is no trial evidence for it.
• Dandruff and scalp scaling: Listed in older homeopathic texts for a flaky, crusted scalp. No human study supports this use.
• Blepharitis (sore, crusty eyelid edges): Homeopathic texts link the remedy to gritty, crusted eyelids. This rests on tradition, not testing. Eye problems that last or hurt need a doctor, not a remedy.

Which foods are rich in Chrysarobinum?

Chrysarobin is not found in food. It comes only from the wood of the araroba tree.

What are the side effects of Chrysarobinum?

• No physical effects are expected from 30C pellets beyond those of the sugar itself
• Mild mouth or gut upset from the sugar or alcohol base
• Burning, stinging or redness of skin from very low dilutions or raw powder
• Deep yellow-brown staining of skin, hair, nails and cloth from raw powder
• Painful, watering eyes if raw powder gets near them
• Blisters or peeling on skin that is already broken
• Rash from an allergy to the plant material
• A skin problem that gets worse while proper care is put off

Good to know:

Most of the risk sits with the raw powder, not the pellets. A 30C pellet holds no source material, so harm from it is very unlikely.

Raw Goa powder is a different story. It burns skin, stains it a deep yellow, and hurts a great deal if it reaches the eyes.

The most common real harm is delay. If a rash or eye problem is treated with pellets alone, it can spread or scar while you wait.

How much Chrysarobinum should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no proven dose. No trial has set a safe or useful amount for this remedy. Labels often say 3 to 5 pellets under the tongue, two or three times a day. Some liquids say 5 drops in water. Follow the label or the person who advised you. Do not make or use raw Goa powder at home in any amount. The raw powder is a strong skin irritant.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Labels often suggest spacing doses through the day. Times are custom in homeopathy, not a tested rule.
• With or without food: Between meals. Labels often say 15 to 30 minutes before or after food, drink, mint or coffee. This is homeopathic custom, not a tested rule.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths often talk about a few days. No trial supports any time frame. If nothing changes in two weeks, treat that as your answer and move on.
• How long to take it: Keep any trial of it short. If your skin is no better in two weeks, stop and see a doctor. Do not keep using it for months for a rash that is spreading, weeping or painful. Those signs need proper care.