Quinine has been used for centuries by native healers to treat fever, malaria, indigestion and diseases of the throat. The first official account came from Lima, Peru, where an Augustinian monk wrote about the "fever tree" in 1633. The bark of the cinchona tree yielded quinine, which quickly became popular throughout Europe for treating fevers.
This ancient herbal remedy is about to be banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Although it has been used for years to relieve "restless legs" and nighttime leg cramps, the FDA now believes it is too dangerous.
Although quinine will still remain a prescription medicine for malaria, the feds will discourage physicians from prescribing it for leg cramps.
The problem is that quinine can cause serious side effects, including a life-threatening anemia. Other complications include rash, itching, ringing in the ears, visual disturbances, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, severe headache, liver damage and low blood sugar. Birth defects are also a risk if the drug is taken during pregnancy. In the judgment of the FDA, such adverse reactions are too severe to justify continued use for what the agency perceives as a relatively minor complaint.
About 2 million Americans have been using quinine to relieve leg cramps. For them, the ban will represent a problem. A recent overview published in the British Medical Journal suggests that quinine is indeed effective for some people, reducing the number of nights they suffer.
But now that quinine is no longer available, people who are awakened with painful cramping will need alternatives so they can get back to sleep.
Rose reports that she walked the floor at night because she couldn't relax to go to sleep. She even considered putting herself to sleep for good because her "jumping" legs were driving her crazy.
Many readers have sent in their own remedies for restless legs and nighttime cramps. Milk or calcium supplements have helped some people. Others tell us that exercise, stretching the calf muscles before getting into bed, can be beneficial. Vitamins and minerals are popular, including vitamin E, riboflavin, potassium, iron and magnesium.
Some people find it helpful to leave the bed sheets loose, so that the toes are not constrained. Others swear by socks or long underwear to keep the legs warm. Two aspirin before bedtime may also provide relief. One reader said she found that a $H tablespoon of vinegar daily kept leg cramps away.
Quinine will not disappear entirely from the market. Tonic water contains small amounts of quinine for flavoring. Some people tell us that a glass of tonic water daily worked against cramping.
Q: Will taking flaxseed oil hurt me? I've heard that it can lower cholesterol.
A: There is growing interest in flaxseed for several medical conditions. Preliminary research suggests it may lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of blood clots and perhaps certain cancers. A report in the British Journal of Nutrition suggested that flaxseed powder was "palatable, safe and may be nutritionally beneficial." We don't know if you can cook with flaxseed oil, but we find no reports of problems with low doses.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Dr. Teresa Graedon is a medical anthropologist and nutrition expert.