Quebracho

Quebracho is the bark of Aspidosperma quebracho (natural order Apocynaceæ), which grows in the Argentine Republic. It has a slightly bitter taste, and contains a number of active principles, of which the most important is aspidospermine. Both the bark and aspidospermine act like quinine in lowering the temperature in some cases of fever. They promote secretion from the kidneys, intestinal and salivary glands, and relieve dyspnoea or asthma of functional origin. The bark is taken in doses of five to eight grains, aspidospermine in doses of one grain, per day.