Cinchona ~ Cinchona succirubra, C. calisaya, C. ledgeriana, C. officinalis

Cinchona

Latin name: Cinchona succirubra, C. calisaya, C. ledgeriana, C. officinalis

Family: Rubiaceae

Part used: root, bark of stem

Habitat: native to mountainous tropical regions of south America, cultivated in Africa and S.E. Asia

Main constituents: quinoline alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonine, cinchonidine), glycosides, tannins

Energetics: very cold and dry, very bitter, cooling to lower urinary and lymphatic activity, warming to rest of body

Major herbal actions: antimalarial, astringent, febrifuge

Minor herbal actions: tonic, spasmolytic, antiarrhythmic, relaxant nervine, stomachic, bitter digestive tonic, antimicrobial

Main medicinal uses: malaria, fever, arrhythmia, cold and flu (Khalsa)

Minor medicinal uses: quinine salts (and whole cinchona bark- Khalsa) are used to prevent leg cramps, GI upset

Preparations: powdered bark 0.3-1g (1-5 grams- Khalsa), 1-3 grams at bedtime for leg cramps (Khalsa); liquid extract 0.3-1ml; tincture 2-4ml; cold infusion 2-3oz up to tid

Contraindications: Pregnancy (except if the patient has malaria), may potentiate blood-thinning medications; watch in hypertensive individuals, as it has a hyptertensive potential

Toxicity: Cinchonism is characterized by headache, tinnitus, abdominal pain, rashes, and visual disturbances; pure quinine at large doses can be toxic

Comments: combines very well (synergistic) with willow bark (Khalsa) for cold and flu, and as relaxant

Sources: http://www.rain-tree.com/quinine.htm, http://www.naturalhealthnotebook.com/Herbs/Latin_Herbs/Genus-C/cinchona_calisaya.htm, Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Module 3 slide 16

Main medicinal uses: malaria, fever, arrhythmia, cold and flu (Khalsa)
Minor medicinal uses: quinine salts (and whole cinchona bark- Khalsa) are used to prevent leg cramps, GI upset
Preparations: powdered bark 0.3-1g (1-5 grams- Khalsa), 1-3 grams at bedtime for leg cramps
(Khalsa)
Toxicity: Cinchonism is characterized by headache, tinnitus, abdominal pain, rashes, and
visual disturbances (unlikely from whole raw herb); pure quinine at large doses can be toxic
Comments: combines very well (synergistic) with willow bark (Khalsa) for cold and flu, and as relaxant