What disease does quinine fight?

Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria. Quinine was first isolated in 1820 from the bark of a cinchona tree. Bark extracts have been used to treat malaria since at least 1632. As of 2006, it is no longer recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a first-line treatment for malaria, and it should be used only when artemisinins are not available. Quinine is also used to treat lupus and arthritis.

Quinine is a flavor component of tonic water and bitter lemon drink mixers. On the soda gun behind many bars, tonic water is designated by the letter "Q" representing quinine.

According to tradition, the bitter taste of anti-malarial quinine tonic led British colonials in India to mix it with gin, thus creating the gin and tonic cocktail, which is still popular today. Nowadays, the amount of quinine in tonic is much lower and drinking it against malaria is useless. In the US, quinine is listed as an ingredient in some Diet Snapple flavors, including Cranberry-Raspberry.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

22 Comments

David Colloby

the reason for the popularity of Gin & Tonic in the tropics

lls

good for leg cramps, too!

Keith Richard Mears

In England the medicine was originally called "Jesuit bark" & because of that was regarded with suspicion by the protestant majority, there is some speculation that Oliver Cromwell died of malaria, despite the medicine to treat it being available.

Candace Clark

I take it for Lupus and it helps with my arthritic pain.

Les Griffin

Good Q&A

Edward Spencer

Does very good on the common cold too !

Player

ninakamwene, did it help during all your malaria cases? You once posted you've had it a few times

ninakamwene

Quinine saved my life when I had malaria in Kenya as a child. Gin and Tonic not for me. Thank you.

james parrillo

Sonia Ackhurst, I did, too. I remember the name but not how the substance is used or that it can be made from tree bark. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

james parrillo

Mr.LaFaye, Wow, Mr. LaFaye, I thought I was reading a comment from Doctor Luci. She did offer additional information, as well. I know I have heard of quinine but do not remember the context. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

Char

I thought that was right and I did remember it. My Dad had that Army related

Warren Domke

During my Vietnam tour I became very well-acquainted with a pill known as chloriquine primaquine, a quinine derivative taken to prevent malaria. It had some nasty side effects but was still better than getting malaria.

Mr.LaFaye

The FDA has issued warnings about quinine since 1994 and more recently about its minimal effectiveness in treating leg cramps. In 2006, it banned the sale of all unapproved drugs that contained quinine except the branded drug, Qualaquin, because of the risk of serious side effects or death. The side effects of quinine can include: ringing in the ears. vomiting. stomach cramps. nervousness. nausea. diarrhea. confusion.