Garden Quinine

The Garden Quinine is considered to be an erect, drooping or straggling shrub that belongs to the plant family Verbenaceae. The shrub grows to a height of 1 to 2.5 metres and is found mostly in the coastal areas. The simple leaves are arranged opposite each other. They are elliptic or ovate and about 2 to 4 cm. wide and 4 to 8 cm. long. The petioles of the leaves have a characteristic brown and purplish red colour. The inflorescence or cluster of white flowers are borne on a common base in the axils of leaves or terminally. The fruits are drupes, obovoid, black in colour, and are one-seeded.

           
MEDICINAL USE:
*Skin diseases.
*Itching.
*Febrifuge or an agent that reduces fever.
*Buboes or the inflammation of the lymph gland chiefly under the arm.

HOW TO USE:
*For akin diseases and itching, the fresh leaves are boiled and a bath taken with that water.  
  Alternatively the fresh leaves are ground and the paste is applied on the affected parts.
*The decoction of the leaves is used to reduced fever.
*For buboes, a poultice made from the leaves is applied externally over the affected parts.

PARTS USED:
*The fresh leaves.

DOSE:
As recommended above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp


1 litre = 7 or 8 cups