Have you ever heard about the benefits of quinine? This tropical plant is still unknown to many people, but it is a great natural product to improve health and prevent disease.
Here you will discover everything about the medicinal powers of this plant. And the best: everything proven by science and medicine!
With the scientific name Cinchona officinalis, it is a native plant in South America, more precisely in tropical regions.
It is the source of a medicinal substance called quinine, which ended up being a reference to its familiar names, such as: quina, quina-yellow, quina-quina, among others.
The most used parts are the leaves and bark of the root, trunk and branches. They are very common natural products in the production of teas.
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What are the benefits of quinine?
Quinine is a plant with several benefits, among them the help in the treatment against malaria and the fight against fun
Among the benefits of quinine are the treatment and prevention of malaria (Photo: Jo Jan | Reproduction Wikipedia)
Check below all the healthy benefits of quinine that have already been proven by medicine.
Help in treating malaria
First, let’s highlight a peculiar benefit that makes quinine known in the scientific community: it helps in the treatment and fight against malaria.
It is not a natural remedy, but it is considered a plant that helps in the treatment of this disease.
In science, they call it an “anti-malarial” plant. This is because quinine is the active compound of quinine, the main drug used to treat malaria.
We know that this benefit is very specific, and that most people don’t look for this plant because of it, but it’s important to mention it because it’s very rare. Therefore, quinine is one of the few anti-malarial foods that exist.
In addition, a study carried out in France proved that the consumption of quinine is able to prevent malaria, in addition to helping to treat the disease .
Eliminates bacteria and viruses
Another benefit proven through a scientific study is the antibacterial effect of quinine.
According to medicine, laboratory analysis showed that the composition of this plant is rich in substances capable of fighting different types of bacteria, whether those that promote diseases or the most common and harmless.
In addition, the study brings the information that there is also an antiviral effect. In other words, the plant is able to prevent and fight viruses present in the body.
Thus, the plant can be very important in various treatments for diseases caused by viruses, such as the flu , for example.
Fight fungi
The same study that obtained the answer to the antibacterial power of quinine also proved to the world that the plant has action against fungi.
The antifungal effect is also due to the rich composition of the plant, which can kill agents that are harmful to the body.
It’s a natural parasiticide
Since we are talking about eliminating organisms that harm us from the body, quinine is also considered an anthelmintic food.
This is the name given to natural remedies and products capable of combating and eliminating parasites from the human body.
However, it is noteworthy that this benefit is an aid in the treatment against parasites.
Just consuming the quinine or tea from this plant will not be enough to eliminate intestinal worms, for example. Tea and other products derived from quinine should be used to enhance the treatment only.
How to make quinine tea?
The preparation of quinine tea is very simple and easy to make. All you need is hot water and the plant.
In this case, you can use the leaves or the bark, as both bring the same benefits. Follow the instructions below to make the best healthy quinine tea:
- Heat a pan with 1 liter of water
- When it boils, add 2 tablespoons of the plant bark and leave for 10 minutes. If you’re going to use the leaves, you don’t need to let it boil for this time.
- Turn off the heat and leave covered for 10 minutes
- Finally, strain and drink without sweetening.
It is important not to sweeten this tea in any way, as sweeteners and sugars will negate some of the main benefits.
But if you want to sweeten it anyway, opt for a teaspoon of bee honey for each cup. That’s because at least you can enjoy the healthy benefits of honey .
How often and how to take the infusion?
This tea should be taken up to three times a day, in case it helps with medical treatments.
If you just want to get the benefits, one or two cups a day is enough.
But beware, do not consume more than recommended, as the plant substances can end up having an opposite effect than expected.
Where to buy which one?
As we mentioned before, quinine is a tropical plant, which means that it is more common in the North and Northeast of Brazil.
In these regions, you can find the corner in open markets, markets and plant stores. For those from other areas, the best option is to look for an online health food store.
In addition, quinine can also be found in capsule form, but it is important to look at the label to see if it is pure and true quinine.
Some companies choose to mix substances from various plants, which results in different benefits and compositions.
Finally, you can still look for a compounding pharmacy of your choice and request the production of capsules with the substances found in the plant.
Whichever way you find it, we are sure that the consumption of the corner will do you good, if done correctly.
Care and contraindications
There are still some doubts about who can and who cannot consume quinine-based recipes and products.
Therefore, there are some important recommendations and necessary precautions for this consumption. Check out:
- Not suitable for pregnant or lactating women
- Not suitable for children under 6 years old
- It is prohibited for those who suffer from psychological illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
All these points are actually preventions. Science still doesn’t know how the plant reacts in these groups of people, so it’s best to avoid it until there is a concrete resolution about the side effects.
In addition, it is important to clarify that the exaggerated consumption of equine can cause damage to health, such as malaise, dizziness, abdominal discomfort and nausea.
To avoid misuse, consult a doctor and ask for his opinion on the use of quinine as a home and natural remedy.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.