Goa Powder Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Goa powder is a yellowish powder that collects in the wood and trunk cavities of the araroba tree (Andira araroba), which grows in parts of Brazil and other tropical regions of South America. It is also known as araroba or Bahia powder, after the region where it was historically gathered.

The powder's main active ingredient is a chemical called chrysarobin. In the 1800s and early 1900s, Goa powder and chrysarobin were widely used in skin ointments to treat scaly skin diseases. Over time, chemists made a more refined and predictable version called anthralin (dithranol), which largely replaced the raw powder in medicine.

Today, true Goa powder is rarely used. It is mostly of historical interest, though chrysarobin and its relatives remain part of the story behind some modern psoriasis treatments.

People historically applied Goa powder to the skin for conditions that cause thick, scaly, or itchy patches. The most common traditional uses were psoriasis and fungal infections such as ringworm.

There is a long history of topical use, and the related compound anthralin is an accepted prescription treatment for psoriasis. However, high-quality modern studies on raw Goa powder itself are very limited. Most of what we know comes from old reports and from research on its purified relatives rather than on the powder you might buy as a supplement.

Because the evidence for the raw powder is old and limited, and because better-studied prescription options exist, Goa powder is not considered a reliable or recommended self-treatment today.

The active chemical, chrysarobin, is part of a family of compounds called anthraquinones. When applied to the skin, it is thought to slow down the rapid overgrowth of skin cells that happens in psoriasis and to have some antifungal activity.

It is believed to work partly by affecting the way skin cells multiply and by producing irritating, reactive substances at the skin surface. Much of this understanding is based on laboratory research and on studies of the related drug anthralin rather than on the raw powder.

One reason chrysarobin and anthralin are tricky to use is that they often stain skin, hair, nails, and clothing a brown or purple color, and they can irritate healthy skin around the treated area.

Goa powder and chrysarobin are strong skin irritants. They are intended for external use only and should never be swallowed, because they can be poisonous if taken by mouth.

People with sensitive skin, broken skin, or widespread skin disease should be especially careful, since the powder can cause burning, redness, and inflammation. It can also irritate the eyes and breathing passages if the dust is inhaled.

Because there is no good safety information, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Goa powder entirely. It should also be kept away from children. If you are interested in treating psoriasis or a skin infection, speak with a doctor or pharmacist about safer, better-studied options.

The most common problems are skin irritation, redness, burning, and itching where the powder is applied. It commonly stains skin, hair, nails, clothing, and surfaces a brown or violet color.

If it gets into the eyes it can cause significant irritation. Inhaling the dust may irritate the nose, throat, and lungs.

Swallowing it can cause poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset. Seek medical help right away if the powder is accidentally swallowed.

There is no established or standardized dose for Goa powder as a supplement. Historically it was mixed into ointments at concentrations chosen by a pharmacist or physician, and even then it had to be used carefully because of irritation and staining.

If you encounter a product that contains chrysarobin or the related medicine anthralin, follow the product label exactly and do not apply more than directed. Because this is a potent and irritating substance, it is best to use it only under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.