Quina Quina (Cinchona officinalis) – Shredded Bark from Brazil

Quina Quina, the Bitter Bark of the Forest Used for Strength, Immunity, and Ancestral Healing

Explore the legacy of one of the world’s most historically significant medicinal plants with Quina Quina (Cinchona officinalis), a powerful bark known for its deep, bitter taste and long-standing association with fever management, immune support, and purification. Wild-harvested in the Brazilian Amazon, our shredded Quina Quina bark connects you to a living tradition of forest medicine that spans continents and centuries.

A Bark of Historical and Cultural Power

Quina Quina is a species of the Cinchona tree, native to South America and historically valued as the natural source of quinine—a compound once central in treating malaria. Referred to in Portuguese as “casca sagrada” or “quina do mato”, the bark has been used by Indigenous peoples and rural herbalists across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia for generations.

It is considered a bitter tonic and energetic cleanser, traditionally consumed as a tea to cool fevers, stimulate digestion, and rebuild strength during and after illness. Its taste is bitter, earthy, and unmistakably medicinal—a bark that speaks with authority.

Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many forest communities in the Brazilian Amazon turned to Quina Quina as part of their local healing strategies. While no scientific claims can be made, it is known that tribes and forest dwellers brewed strong teas from the bark to support their immune systems and recover from symptoms associated with viral infection.

This practice reflects a deep trust in ancestral plant allies and a reliance on what nature provides in times of need—especially when access to formal medical systems is limited or unavailable.

Traditional and Energetic Applications

In herbal traditions, Quina Quina is valued for its ability to:

• Cool and clear the internal heat of fever
• Support the liver and digestive fire
• Strengthen the immune system and rebuild resilience
• Cleanse energetic stagnation and excess moisture from the body

Its bitter nature makes it an ideal detoxifying and fortifying agent, especially after physical depletion, feverish illness, or emotional heaviness. In ceremonial and spiritual herbalism, it is considered a protector and purifier, often used to clear both body and aura.

Quina Quina pairs well with other Amazonian plants like Mulungu, Pau D’Arco, or Andiroba, depending on the desired effect—whether immune support, energetic clarity, or fever reduction.

Scientific and Historical Interest

Cinchona officinalis was the original source of quinine, which was isolated in the 19th century and used extensively in conventional medicine to treat malaria. This legacy led to the widespread planting of Cinchona trees in tropical regions worldwide. While pharmaceutical derivatives of quinine are now produced synthetically, traditional bark decoctions continue to be used by herbalists and natural healers across South America.

Beyond quinine, the bark contains alkaloids, tannins, and bitter compounds that support its traditional uses in digestion, detoxification, and immune response.

How to Use

Our Quina Quina comes shredded and dried, perfect for preparing a traditional decoction. To brew, simmer 1–2 teaspoons of the bark in water for 15–20 minutes. The resulting tea will be very bitter—that’s part of its power.

This bark can also be used in cleansing baths, foot soaks, or tincture preparations. Its potent flavor and energy lend themselves to focused, intentional use during times of healing or spiritual transition.

Sustainably Harvested from Brazil

We work with experienced forest gatherers in Brazil who respect the ecological balance of Cinchona trees and understand their traditional significance. Our bark is wild-harvested with care, dried naturally, and packaged without additives.

At Maya Herbs, we honor the living traditions behind every plant. Quina Quina is more than medicine—it is a story of survival, wisdom, and trust in the forest.

Whether used for deep detox, fever relief, or post-illness recovery, Quina Quina invites you into a healing alliance as old as the forest itself.