Transformation of quinine from miracle drug to tasty tonic water
You might love sipping on your daily dose of tonic water, but in addition should also understand the transformation of quinine from miracle drug to tasty tonic water. If your tonic water contains very small amounts of quinine then you should read about the positive and negative medical properties exhibited by quinine in the past.
Quinine in natural form is extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree. This miracle drug was discovered in the 17-th century by the Quechua Indians and its popularity spread throughout the globe as it was known to successfully fight malaria. Quinine is given to patients in the form of injections or in the form of quinine sulfate tablets. Since quinine has an extremely bitter taste, adults preferred mixing quinine with various alcoholic drinks such as wine and gin in the past. In addition to treating malaria, quinine proved successful in treating arthritis and lupus, and several people around the globe also found that it helped in lowering pain levels associated with leg cramps and migraine.
However, with advances made in modern science, it was discovered that there were several dangers associated with quinine as it produced several side effects that could prove to be dangerous for people that might not tolerate quinine in their bodies. The use of quinine tablets or injections could cause irregular heart beats, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, or other potentially dangerous effects when used for medical purposes. Patients would require constant cardiac monitoring as well as blood glucose monitoring during treatment.
Quinine was banned in the USA by the FDA after several complaints were recorded during medical treatment that involved this once-hailed drug. However, by this time quinine was offered as a non-medical product when it was infused in very small quantities in tonic water to produce a distinct bitter-sweet taste. While several drinkers around the globe started sipping on tonic water blended with small quantities of quinine, the recent ban over quinine for medical purposes started a few people to question the dangers of tonic water with quinine too.
On the other hand, people that suffered from painful leg cramps, arthritis, and migraines started claiming that they found relief after drinking tonic water with quinine on a regular basis. This led to many more people trying out quinine for leg cramps. However, to be on the safe side, tonic water lovers that wish to drink quinine in tonic water on a regular basis should ensure that they do not suffer from any existing heart condition or from fluctuating blood glucose levels. They should also observe their bodies for any visible side-effects when they start drinking tonic water that contains quinine. These effects could be positive or negative but constant monitoring would help avoid potential problems or even help to gain freedom from painful afflictions.
Quinine might have a checkered history, but this drug does possess several beneficial properties for people that want to get rid of painful conditions or even people that simply love the bitter-sweet taste of tonic water quinine. If you do not exhibit any ill-effects of drinking quinine in tonic water and enjoy this delicious drink in moderation then you can certainly remain immune from any dangers of quinine even as you enjoy each tasty sip to the fullest.