Compound Monograph
Wood Creosote
Wood creosote is a phenolic distillate of beechwood tar whose main components include guaiacol.
Sources
Where Does It Come From?
Wood Creosote is a naturally occurring phenolic mixture (wood-tar distillate). It is flagged as moderately toxic.
Research & Evidence
Wood creosote is a colorless to yellowish mixture obtained by distilling the tar of beechwood and related hardwoods, and is chemically distinct from the coal-tar creosote used as a wood preservative. Its principal phenolic components include guaiacol and creosol. Historically it has been used as an expectorant and an antidiarrheal agent, and guaiacol in particular has a long history of medicinal and flavoring use.
Toxicity & Safety
Wood creosote is a phenolic preparation and should not be confused with the more hazardous coal-tar creosote. Concentrated phenols can irritate skin and mucous membranes and may be harmful if misused, so it is best treated with caution. Its detailed modern safety profile is not fully characterized.
