Whatsnew
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Reged: 09/27/03
Posts: 205
Loc: S.E. USA
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Does anyone know why they put Quinine in tonic water? Also, what is Quinine actually good for? Thanks.
D
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DBs member since Feb. '03
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paygen999
Journeyman

Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 75
Loc: NY
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Wow interesting you should ask..see my reply to Hydro holiday post above..or rather below beause im going to bump this up..but anyway its used for leg cramps and helpful with those restless legs experienced when in w/d..i belive theres another medical use for it.. LOL i want to say as a malaria treatment but not at all sure why i think that...
Edited by paygen999 (12/12/03 06:12 PM)
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paygen999
Journeyman

Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 75
Loc: NY
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Oh and as to why they put it in tonic water i havent a clue.
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Whatsnew
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Reged: 09/27/03
Posts: 205
Loc: S.E. USA
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Thanks Pay. Anyone else on why they would put Quinine in tonic water?? I have wondered about that for a long time. Thanks.
D
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DBs member since Feb. '03
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537
Threadhead
Reged: 12/08/01
Posts: 785
Loc: west coast CA
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Maybe something to do with the taste? Just a guess, though.
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moonbeam
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Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 180
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I got this off of a Google search:
Quinine may be familiar to you if you drink gin and tonic or perhaps vodka and tonic. This is because quinine is in the tonic and gives it that bitter taste. It is a white powder that is obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree that is found in the Andes mountain range of Ecuador and Peru. They were probably discovered by Peruvian Jesuits, who introduced quinine into Europe around 1640. However the destruction of these trees to obtain quinine made them rare and so a way of making it synthetically was sought. This was found in 1944 by Robert Woodward and William Doering by synthesising quinine from coal tar. Quinines formula is C20H24N2O2. click to view 3D structure.
Tonic water is not its only use though; it has use in medicine for it is the traditional treatment for muscle cramps. The reason for muscle cramps is not very well known yet but they are very common and quinine can reduce the frequency of muscle cramps for those who suffer on a weekly or even daily basis. The way in which quinine helps to reduce frequency and severity of cramps is not known either and there have been studies to try and assess the efficacy of the drug.
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Whatsnew
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Reged: 09/27/03
Posts: 205
Loc: S.E. USA
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Thanks Moonbeam. Some good info there, but I don't think I will ever understand why Quinine would be in tonic water.
Thanks again y'all.
D
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DBs member since Feb. '03
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Simcha
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Reged: 07/05/03
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Loc: California, USA
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Isn't quinine also used to treat malaria?
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Just for today...
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Simcha
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Reged: 07/05/03
Posts: 16
Loc: California, USA
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Ahah!
Here it is:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/quinine_ids.htm
It's used for malaria too. I think that's why the British used gin and tonics in Africa... 
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Just for today...
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paygen999
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Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 75
Loc: NY
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Hey i was right about the Malaria ???!!!! someone stop the press 
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catmom
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Reged: 06/20/03
Posts: 328
Loc: Midwest
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Off topic---I love your avatar Paygen. What a cute ferret! Not to brag, buy I knew the quinine answer but somebody beat me to it, with references to boot! 
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God, please help me to be the person my DOG already thinks I am.
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efffbeee
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Reged: 10/22/02
Posts: 115
Loc: usa
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Quinine is also known to be a fairly effective codeine potentiator.
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Julz
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Reged: 11/17/03
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Loc: NJ Shore
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Quote:
Tonic water is not its only use though; it has use in medicine for it is the traditional treatment for muscle cramps. The reason for muscle cramps is not very well known yet but they are very common and quinine can reduce the frequency of muscle cramps for those who suffer on a weekly or even daily basis. The way in which quinine helps to reduce frequency and severity of cramps is not known either and there have been studies to try and assess the efficacy of the drug.
WOW- thanx for this info Moonbeam!!! My hubby is capt. of commercial fishing boat & talk about muscle cramps!!! I will get some quinine for him-hoping that helps ease the pain some! (My hands get tired of rubbing his back & arms all the time, PLUS he's solid as a rock.) I wonder how it can be purchased, other than in tonic water?
You really do learn something new every day!!
Thanx again,

Julz
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Love never fails. 1Cor 13:8
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paygen999
Journeyman

Reged: 12/07/03
Posts: 75
Loc: NY
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I get quinine OTC at CVS drugstore.its called HYLANDS LEG CRAMPS..its labled as a natural remedy and in a teeny tiny bottle so you have to look hard for it..they stock it by the aspirin and back remedies.
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