What is Stool wood / God's tree?

Stool wood is the bark of Alstonia boonei, a tall tree of West African forests. In Ghana it is called Nyame dua, which means God's tree. The bitter bark is most often boiled into a drink for fever, malaria and body pain.

The same tree is sold as cheesewood or pattern wood. Its soft, pale timber was carved into stools, drums and masks. The bark, the root bark and the milky white sap are the parts used as a remedy.

Here is the honest verdict on the evidence. Lab and animal work supports some of the old claims. Good human trials are missing, so we cannot say it works in people.

Long and respected use in a tradition is not proof that a remedy works. It is also not proof that it is safe. You will not see that point repeated below, but it applies to every use on this page.

How does Stool wood / God's tree work?

No one has shown how this bark acts in the human body. Everything below comes from test tubes and animals.

The bark holds bitter alkaloids, chiefly echitamine. In test tubes, bark extracts slow the growth of the malaria parasite. Whether that happens inside a person is not known.

In rats and mice, bark extracts lowered fever and cut paw swelling. Researchers linked this to the same chemical pathway that aspirin blocks. That work is early and has not been repeated in people.

Animal work also hints at lower blood sugar and lower blood pressure. Again, these are signals in rodents, not results in humans.

One point matters for safety. The alkaloid content of bark swings widely from tree to tree and season to season. So two cups of the same brew can differ in strength.

What forms does Stool wood / God's tree come in?

Most people meet it as bark. Markets in Ghana and Nigeria sell it in slabs, chips or powder.

Common forms include:

- Dried bark pieces, boiled into a bitter drink - Powdered bark, sometimes packed into capsules - Alcohol tinctures and mixed "bitters" blends - Root bark, used in the same way as stem bark - Fresh latex, dabbed on skin or on wounds in village practice

Mixed herbal bitters are the hardest form to judge. They often carry several plants at once, and the label may not name the amount of each. That makes reactions hard to trace back to one ingredient.

Where it comes from:

Alstonia boonei has been a major remedy across West and Central Africa for generations. Healers in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire treated the tree as sacred.

The Twi name Nyame dua ties it to God and to shrines. Its light wood was carved into stools, drums and coffins, which gave the English name stool wood.

Bark decoctions were given for fever and malaria. Healers also used them for joint pain, chest trouble, and worms.

Women were given the bark after childbirth to help the afterbirth come away and to encourage milk. Latex was smeared on sores, boils and snakebite. These are records of past practice, not advice to copy them.

What does Stool wood / God's tree help with?

• Malaria and fever: This is the main traditional use across West Africa. Bark was boiled and drunk at the first sign of fever. In test tubes, bark extracts slow Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite behind severe malaria. Rodent studies show some drop in parasite numbers. There are no solid human trials. Malaria can kill within days. Never use this bark in place of a tested malaria drug, and get a test if you have fever in a malaria area.
• Joint pain and rheumatism: Healers gave the bark for stiff, painful joints and swelling. It remains one of its most common uses today. In rats, bark extracts reduced paw swelling and eased pain signals. This is a standard animal model, not a human result. No trial has tested it for arthritis in people.
• General pain and fever: The bark was treated as a broad fever and pain drink, much as aspirin is used now. Mouse and rat studies back a pain-easing and fever-lowering effect. Human evidence is absent. So the strength of any effect, and the dose needed, are both unknown.
• Chest complaints such as asthma and cough: Bark drinks were given for wheeze, cough and tight breathing in several West African settings. There is very little lab work here and no human trial. Asthma attacks can turn serious fast. Treat this use as unproven and keep your prescribed inhaler.
• Intestinal worms: The bitter bark was used to expel worms, often as a single strong drink. Some test-tube work shows activity against worms and parasites. That does not tell us what happens in the human gut. Modern worm medicines are cheap, tested and far safer.
• Care after childbirth: Tradition used the bark to help the afterbirth come away and to boost breast milk. This use also explains a key risk. A plant thought to squeeze the womb is a plant to avoid during pregnancy. There is no human study on milk supply, and no safety data for a nursing baby. Do not use it while pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Sores, boils and snakebite: Fresh latex and bark pastes were put on wounds, boils and bites. Lab tests show some bark extracts slow bacteria in a dish. Whether that happens on broken skin is not established. Snakebite is a medical emergency and needs a hospital, not a plant paste.

What are the side effects of Stool wood / God's tree?

• Nausea and vomiting from the strong bitter taste
• Stomach cramps and loose stools
• Dizziness or light-headedness, which may mean a drop in blood pressure
• A fall in blood sugar, with shakiness or sweating
• Headache
• Skin rash or itching, mainly from the latex
• Eye stinging if the latex splashes in
• Signs of liver strain with heavy or long use: yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pain under the right ribs

Good to know:

Mild stomach upset and bitterness-driven nausea are the usual complaints. They tend to pass once you stop.

The serious concerns sit with high doses and long use. Animal work at high doses shows damage to the liver and kidneys. Human reports are scarce, partly because these effects are rarely traced back to a herbal drink.

A bigger real-world risk is delay. People have used the bark instead of a tested malaria drug and got worse.

How much Stool wood / God's tree should you take?

• Recommended daily: This page gives no dose, and here is why. There is no agreed, tested amount for Alstonia boonei bark. The alkaloid content varies a lot between trees, seasons and batches. Two brews made the same way can differ in strength. Most products carry no measure of how much echitamine is inside. If a product you own carries a label amount, treat it as the maker's figure, not a tested safe limit. A pharmacist or doctor who knows your health history is the right person to ask.
• Best time of day: Time of day has not been studied and is unlikely to matter. Some people find the bitterness easier earlier in the day. If you feel dizzy or light-headed after taking it, do not take it before driving.
• With or without food: Food has not been studied with this bark. The brew is harsh and bitter, and nausea is a common complaint. Taking it with food may be gentler on the stomach. If it causes cramps or vomiting either way, stop.
• Time to effect: Nobody can give you an honest number here, because no human trial has measured it. Traditional accounts describe fever easing within a day or two. It may also do nothing at all for your problem. If a fever or pain is not clearly improving within two days, seek care.
• How long to take it: No safe length of use has been set. Traditional use was short and aimed at an illness, not daily for months. Animal studies at high doses point to strain on the liver and kidneys over time. That is a reason to avoid long runs. Stop and get advice if symptoms are not settling within a few days.