Cinchona

Rubiaceae - Rubiaceae. Parts used: bark of cultivated trees. Pharmacy name: cinchona bark - Cinchonae succirubrae cortex (formerly: Cortex Chinae).

Botanical description. The homeland of the cinchona tree is the Andes valley in the northern part of South America, but its cultural plantings are currently available in Java, India and the Congo. The cinchona tree reaches a height of approximately 30 m, has a slender trunk and a dense rounded crown. The leaves are large, ovate, petiolate. Dense bunches of red flowers are collected in loose panicles.

Collection and preparation. Growing cinchona trees is interesting. Seedlings are obtained from the seeds, which are then planted on plantations. After 6 years, they begin to use the plantings: the plantation is thinned out and the bark is taken from the trunks and roots of the trees being removed. In subsequent years, such thinning is regularly carried out until after 20 years only a quarter of the once planted trees remain. Then the latter are removed and the plantation is replanted.

Obtaining bark for medicinal purposes is very labor-intensive. First, ring-shaped cuts are made, which are then connected longitudinally. By carrying out a series of blows on the bark, it is sort of separated from the wood, and then torn off with horny spatulas. They dry it first in the sun, and then at about 80°C in special dryers. In another option, 8 years after planting, the trees are cut close to the ground. A shoot is formed, which is also used after a few years.

Active ingredients. The most important active ingredients are bitter alkaloids, the content of which in raw materials can vary greatly. The most famous of them are quinine and quinidine. In addition to them, it is worth mentioning tannins, quinic acid and bitter glycosides.

Healing action and application. The cinchona tree became famous thanks to its bark - after it was discovered that it could be used to treat malaria (quinine has this effect). Along with this, many herbal preparations prepared from it (quinine wine, cinchona tincture) were used as a tonic and strengthening agent, especially for children. Pure quinine (now produced synthetically) and quinidine are included in many flu medications, which work especially well at high temperatures. These alkaloids are also used as cardiac agents.

The German National Health Service recognizes the following uses for cinchona bark: for stomach diseases caused by insufficient formation of gastric juice, and for stimulating appetite. During pregnancy, stomach and intestinal ulcers and, of course, if you are allergic to quinine, cinchona bark should not be used.

Use in homeopathy. China - the name of the homeopathic remedy made from cinchona bark - is very widely used in homeopathy. Low dilutions of it (D1 and D1) are recommended for insufficient secretion of gastric juice, for general weakness and during the period of recovery after a debilitating illness. In these dilutions, quinine acts as a true tonic.

Slightly higher dilutions (D4 - D6) are used for periodic headaches, neuralgia, bronchitis and whooping cough, rapid pulse, stomach diseases, poor digestion, diseases of the biliary system, fever, gout.

When studying the effect of quinine bark, Samuel Hahnemann discovered a pattern: he himself (being healthy) after taking quinine always began to suffer from a strong fever, and those with fever were cured by quinine. Homeopathic doctors know the so-called quinine type of people: these are people who are unusually weakened, suffering from lack of appetite and hypersensitivity, irritable and unbalanced, with ailments of the stomach and biliary system.

Side effects. Here it is necessary to clearly distinguish between cinchona bark and pure quinine. Cinchona bark in galenic preparations and in therapeutic doses when taken in the form of tea does not produce side effects, but quinine must be treated with caution.

At higher doses, poisoning may be expected in some patients. 10-15 g quinine op