The Cinchona Tree also known as the Perusian or Quinine bark is a tall evergreen tree that often reaches between fifty to a hundred feet in height when fully matured. Their leaves are broad marked off by large veins accompanied by pink, red or white flowers.
The use of the Cinchona tree in treatment of malaria was accidently discovered by American soldiers while in tropical forests of Indonesia and one of their soldiers fell terribly ill. They then scrapped the bark of the tree because the locals used it in treatment of fevers. Luckily the casualty survived and it was soon converted into a tablet.
Seeing this great discovery the locals grew the bark in large tracts of land in the Islands of Java in Indonesia. The tree was notoriously felled by European doctors leading to a great scarcity of the trees in the nineteenth century. To curb the shortage two scientists discovered another option which was the synthetic Quinine.
The tree thrives on rain forests on an attitude of between three thousand and eleven thousand feet above sea level.
During the time when the church had strong influence on the people in Europe, the tree came to be known as the Jesus bark or Jesuit powder.
The chemical compound responsible for the cure of malaria is an alkanoid quinidine which today is used in the treatment of abnormal rhythms of the heart as well as relieving muscular cramps and treating headaches.
The cinchona in ancient Brazilian times was used to improve appetite and reduce fatigue in the muscles, treating sore throats and other oral problems.
Today it can also be used in the treatment of chronic arthritis, sciatica and dysentery and kapha disorder.
Responsible Travel
Vacations for Travelling Medics
No comments:
Post a Comment