Cinchona has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine to treat cancer, malaria, stomach troubles, mouth diseases and appetite loss. But it has some unpleasant side effects. One of these is tinnitus, the perception of noise or ringing in the ears.
Cinchona
Cinchonas are trees and evergreen shrubs native to mountainous regions of tropical South and Central America. The bark is ground up for medicine. Cinchona’s principal constituent is quinine, which has long been used to treat malaria. In the mid-1800s, the British began to cultivate the tree in their colonies around the world for use against the disease. Trees are still cultivated in southeast Asia and Africa for this purpose. Cinchona is mildly astringent and antiseptic. In addition to its internal uses, cinchona’s external applications include poultices to treat gangrenous ulcers. You might be familiar with the bitter taste of cinchona alkaloids from drinking tonic water, which contains 15 mg of quinine.
Tinnitus
According to the American Tinnitus Association, one in five people suffer from ringing in the ears. Tinnitus, from the Latin “to ring or tinkle like a bell,” comes in two types: subjective and objective. Subjective means only you hear it. This type makes up the majority of cases. Objective tinnitus can be picked up by a sensitive microphone, allowing others to hear the noise in your head. Common triggers for tinnitus are loud noises, neck or head trauma, fibromyalgia, tumors, too much ear wax, a misaligned jaw, cardiovascular disease and bad reactions to medications.
Cinchonism
People who take too much cinchona, or those who are especially sensitive to the alkaloids in the bark, may develop a syndrome called “cinchonism.” Symptoms include abdominal pain, awful headaches, paralysis, collapse, fever and convulsions. The vision may blur and tinnitus, or even temporary deafness, may ensue. If you are taking cinchona and experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
Other Considerations
If you are breastfeeding, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, have high blood pressure or stomach ulcers, or are taking blood thinning medication you should discuss cinchona with your doctor before using it to treat any condition. Other side effects of cinchona include chest pain, breathing problems, abnormal bleeding, bruises, hives and rashes. As for tinnitus, remember that cinchona is only one of many possible causes. If you work or play somewhere noisy, wear ear protection.
