Cinchona – South American Remedy
Cinchona is a tree. People use the bark to make medicine. The plant known as the cinchona is a tall evergreen tree that often reaches between fifty to a hundred feet in height when fully mature. The leaves of the cinchona are flat and broad, marked off by large veins running in the lamina which has a shiny green surface. Cinchona flowers are white, pink or red in color and are often elongated; they are also covered all over thickly with silky hairs, giving them a very distinct appearance. It is the source of the anti-malarial drug quinine. Besides malaria quinine is also a very good anti- inflammatory and anti-pyretic agent. It is also one of the common constituents of Homeopathic medicines. The demand for cinchona during the 19th century in Europe and across the world increased to such an extent, that viable populations of the trees in South America were almost exhausted and the plant was threatened with extinction. European colonists made an attempt to cultivate different cinchona species in their colonies found in tropical regions of the world. In this attempt, the most successful Europeans were the Dutch colonists on the Indonesian island of Java – which turned out to have the best conditions for growth of cinchona trees. In the contemporary world, as a result of the diffusion of the cinchona to many former European colonies, the world’s cinchona supply mainly comes from central Africa and Indonesia, in addition to South America.
Cinchona is used for increasing appetite; promoting the release of digestive juices; and treating bloating, fullness, and other stomach problems. It is also used for blood vessel disorders including hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and leg cramps. Some people use cinchona for mild attacks of influenza, swine flu, the common cold, malaria, and fever. Other uses are for cancer, mouth and throat diseases, enlarged spleen, and muscle cramps. The bark has been in use by the natives of the Amazon jungles for thousands of years for treating dysentery, flu, and nervous disorders. The anti-pyretic effects of cinchona bark was first documented in the 1600 when a woman who happened to be the wife of a Peruvian official was cured of unremitting fever possibly caused by malaria. Later the anti-malarial quinine was isolated from Cinchona bark. Cinchona has revoked interest because of its beneficial effects in dealing with cancer.
An infusion of Cinchona has numerous health benefits. It can be used as an antiseptic, and can be used to dress wounds and boils. It can also be used as a gargle to get relief from sore throat and can relieve the discomfort of mouth ulcers. It is also a very good hepatic tonic for ailments like swollen liver and gall bladder ailments. It is also effective in digestive disorders like anorexia and dysentery. It is also very useful in muscle spasms and hair fall. New studies have revealed that it is also effective in tackling cardiac palpitations and promote heart health .Cinchona is also used in eye lotions to numb pain, kill germs, and as an astringent. Cinchona extract is also applied to the skin for hemorrhoids, stimulating hair growth, and managing varicose veins.
Category: HERBAL REMEDIES, HERBS
