Quinine still manages to be an essential anti-malarial drug almost four hundred (400) years after its emergence was initially recorded. But, its continued use is challenge by its weak tolerability, weak compliance with dosing components, and the availability of more successful anti-malarial drugs.
Quina, an active ingredient which is considered to be one of the most effective way of treating malaria in the early times, is propagated and commercialized as quinine nowadays, as a medicinal wonder that cures the same. However, the role of rectal quinine has not been exploited effectively, but it still remains as a promising tool.
Cinchona, or more commonly known as quina quina tree, is where Quina is derived. People use the bark to make the medicine. This is also used in enhancing appetite, modifying the release of digestive juices. It also uses to treat bloated stomachs, and other stomach issues. More importantly, it is also being used to treat malaria. It can be taken as a tea, by boiling the bark of the quina quina tree.
But because of medicinal development, it has evolved in to a wonder drug known as quinine. Malaria has been a menace in the early 1900s up to the Second World War. And a lot of people died because of malaria. The emergence of quinine has been a blessing to humankind. Quinine continues to play a crucial role in the treatment of malaria, especially in the early stages, and it will remain a major component of treatment until safer alternatives become prevalent.
True enough, the answer to one’s problem in treating diseases can be found everywhere. The nature has its own way of communicating to people and showcasing what can be used to fight such diseases.
At this point in time, quinine remains as an essential anti-malarial medicine that came from the timber quina, almost four hundred years after Jesuit priests initially documented its wonder. The 2010 World Health Organization (“WHO”) parameters recommend a mixture of quinine plus doxycycline, clindamycin and tetracucline as second line of defense for simple malaria and quinine plus. A significant amount of people have perished during the Second World War and estimated to be six hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. Moreover, the toll dropped to almost negligible in the present times and malaria can now be identified not as deadly. This is because of the help of quinine.
If only Cinchona was propagated during the Second World War and the Jesuit’s discovery has given significant attention, the world will not suffer from enormous amounts of death because of malaria. However, the world also has a way to teach us the importance of nature. That is why there is a need to take care of our vast forests to be able to have an abundant stock of Cinchona tree. This leads us to sustainable development as a system that links nature to man and its surroundings.
Believe me when we say this, all the answers to our problem can be seen and witness in our nature. You just have to develop it.