Cinchona bark is used for digestive complaints such as bloating and flatulence, and as a bitter tonic for loss of appetite.
Furthermore, the drug is used in the treatment of malaria; however, this indication does not appear in the Commission E monograph.
Finally, cinchona bark is also said to have analgesic properties. The bark was already used by the indigenous people of the Andes to reduce fever.
Folk medicine application
Today, the plant is used in folk medicine mainly as a bitter remedy to promote gastric juice secretion and stimulate appetite, as well as for flu-like infections.
Cinchona bark in homeopathy
The quinine contained in cinchona bark is popularly given in homeopathy as a tonic for anemia and resulting headaches. Furthermore, it is used for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with flatulence, gallstones, liver swelling, nervous disorders and sexual irritability.
Other uses include heart excitation, hemorrhage, fever, and disorders of the sense organs such as weak vision and hearing loss.
Ingredients of cinchona tree
Cinchona bark contains 5-15% alkaloids, 30-60% of which are quinine-type alkaloids. Other alkaloids present include quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine. In most cases, a higher proportion of quinine can be detected in the stem bark than in the branch or root bark. Furthermore, the bark contains about 8% catechin tannin and tannin precursors, bitter substances of the triterpene type, glucosides, and traces of essential oil.
For what indications is cinchona bark tree used?
Cinchona bark tree is used in the following cases:
- Digestive problems
- Indigestion
- Feeling of fullness
- Flatulence
- Loss of appetite
- Malaria
- Flu infection
