Quinine

(Cinchona officinalis)

Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Cinchona
Species: officinalis, ledgeriana, succirubra, calisaya
Synonyms: Quinaquina officinalis, Quinaquina lancifolia, Quinaquina coccinea
Common names: Quinine bark, quina, quinine, kinakina, China bark, cinchona bark, yellow cinchona, red cinchona, Peruvian bark, Jesuit's bark, quina-quina, calisaya bark, fever tree
Phytochemicals: ricine, caffeic acid, cinchofulvic acid, cincholic acid, cinchonain, cinchonidine, cinchonine, cinchophyllamine, cinchotannic acid, cinchotine, conquinamine, cuscamidine, cuscamine, cusconidine, cusconine, epicatechin, javanine, paricine, proanthocyanidins, quinacimine, quinamine, quinic acid, quinicine, quinine, quininidine, quinovic acid, quinovin, and sucirubine.
Parts Used: Bark, wood

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: treats malaria kills parasites reduces fevere regulated heartbeat stimulates digestion kills germs reduces spasms kills insects

Other Actions: relieves pain kills bacteria kills fungi dries secretions calms nerves

Standard Dosage Bark Decotion: ½ to 1 cup 3 times daily Capsules: 2g twice daily Tincuture: 1-2ml twice daily

The genus Cinchona contains about forty species of trees. All cinchonas are indigenous to the eastern slopes of the Amazonian area of the Andes. They are now widely cultivated in many tropical countries for their commercial value, although they are not indigenous to those areas.

In 1820 two scientists, Pelletier and Caventou, isolated an alkaloid chemical in the bark which provided the highest antimalarial effect and named it quinine. Once discovered, methods were developed to extract only the quinine alkaloid from the natural bark to sell as an antimalarial drug.

The cardiac effects of cinchona bark were noted in academic medicine at the end of the 17th century. Quinine was used sporadically through the first half of the 18th century for cardiac problems and arrhythmia and it became a standard of cardiac therapy in the second half of the 19th century. Another alkaloid chemical called quinidine was discovered to be responsible for this beneficial cardiac effect. Quinidine, a compound produced from quinine, is still used in cardiology today, sold as a prescription drug for arrhythmia.

A recent use for quinine drugs has been for the treatment of muscle spasms and leg cramps. A 1998 study documented the beneficial effects of quinine for leg cramps, with tinnitus being the only documented side effect.

Cinchona, or quinine bark, is one of the rainforest's most famous plants and most important discoveries. Legend has it that the name cinchona came from the countess of Chinchon, the wife of a Peruvian viceroy, who was cured of a malarial type of fever by using the bark of the cinchona tree in 1638. It was supposedly introduced to European medicine in 1640 by the countess of Chinchon, even before botanists had identified and named the species of tree. Quinine bark was first advertised for sale in England in 1658, and was made official in the British Pharmacopoeia in 1677. Physicians gave credit to the drug and, because of its effectiveness with malaria, it was recognized officially even while the identity of the tree species remained unknown. Throughout the mid-1600s to mid-1800s quinine bark was the primary treatment for malaria and it evidenced remarkable results. It was also used for fever, indigestion, mouth and throat diseases, and cancer.

Natural quinine bark is still employed in herbal medicine systems around the world today.

Region	Uses
Brazil	for anemia, anorexia, debility, digestive sluggishness, dyspepsia, fatigue, fevers, gastrointestinal disorders, indigestion, malaria
Europe	for alcoholism, anemia, antimalarial, appetite stimulant, cramps, debility, diarrhea, enlarged spleen, fevers, flatulence, gallbladder disorders, hair loss, irregular heartbeat, leg cramps, liver disorders, malaria, muscle pain, protozoal infections, and as a antiseptic
Mexico	malaria, and as an antiseptic, astringent, and tonic
US	for bacterial infections, colds, digestive disorders, dyspepsia, fevers, flu, headaches, heart palpitations, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, malaria, pain, varicose veins, viral infections, and as an appetite stimulant, astringent and cardiotonic
Venezuela	for cancer and malaria
Elsewhere	for amebic infections, bacterial infections, carditis, colds, contraceptive, cough, dandruff, diarrhea, digestive sluggishness, dysentery, dyspepsia, fever, flu, glandular disorders, hangovers, hemorrhoids, lumbago, malaria, neuralgia, pain, pinworms, pneumonia, sciatica, septic infections, sore throat, stomatitis, tumor (glands), typhoid, varicose veins, and as a insecticide, insect repellent, stimulant, and uterine tonic

QUININE PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	decoction
Main Actions (in order):	antimalarial, bitter digestive aid, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, febrifuge (reduces fever)
Main Uses:	for malaria as a bitter digestive aid to stimulate digestive juices for nocturnal leg cramps for intestinal parasites and protozoa for arrhythmia and other heart conditions
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	anti-arrhythmic, antimalarial, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antispasmodic, bitter digestive aid, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart)
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	amebicide, analgesic (pain-reliever), antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, astringent, digestive stimulant, febrifuge (reduces fever), insecticide, nervine (balances/calms nerves), neurasthenic (reduces nerve pain)
Traditional Preparation:	Decoction: one-half cup bark 1-3 times daily Tincture: 1-2 ml of a 4:1 tincture is taken twice daily Tablets/capsules: one to 2 grams daily of powdered bark
Contraindications:	Quinine bark contains naturally-occurring quinine alkaloids. These quinine alkaloids are sold as prescription drugs with numerous side effects and warnings documented in the literature. Do not exceed the quinine bark natural remedy amounts shown above unless you are under the care and advice of a qualified health care practitioner who is familiar with the warnings, side effects, and contraindications of higher therapeutic levels of quinine alkaloids.
Drug Interactions:	May potentiate blood thinning medications such as Warfarin.®

WARNINGS: Information, statements and products on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The natural properties of the botanicals are only referred to their common uses among folk and herbal traditions. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease as well. It's not meant to give any suggestion of diagnosis or disesase treatment. Please see a doctor when needed.