Tonic water contains a certain percentage of quinine, an extract of the bark of the cinchona tree that has been used for the treatment of malaria. Quinine is an effective muscle relaxant, long used by the Quechua Indians of Peru to stop symptoms like shivering. The 
Peruvians would mix the ground bark of cinchona trees with sweetened water to offset the bark’s bitter taste, thus producing tonic water
Quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, appearing in therapeutics in the 17th century. It remained the anti-malarial drug of choice until the 1940s, when other drugs replaced it. It is rarely used in medicinal cases as it can be difficult to keep down, thereby making dosing difficult. Quinine is still used in tonic water to maintain the flavour expected by customers.
Research has shown that the use of quinine has been correlated with the loss of hearing, especially at higher frequencies. Many tinnitus sufferers report that their symptoms significantly increase after drinking tonic water or with any other use of quinine. It has not yet been established whether the effects of quinine on hearing function are permanent or not, but it seems that after some time they do wane. Of course every individual may experience the effects of quinine differently so it isn’t necessary that they will either experience any tinnitus or if hearing loss occurs, whether normal hearing will return.
However, in the use of homeopathy quinine is considered viable for the treatment of tinnitus. This is because homeopathy uses miniscule amounts of the aggravator to somewhat force the body into reaction. It is in some way similar to inoculations, where the powerless element is introduced to the body, and anti-bodies form. Homeopathy works on the principal that the body will heal itself if small amount of the aggravator are introduced.
A little fun fact:
Tonic water glows if placed under a blacklight. Quinine is the cause of this glow.
Tags: increasing tinnitus symptoms, tinnitus and quinine, tinnitus protection
Hi ,
Ihave been suffering from tinitus for quite a while now.It so happened that l was hit hit hard by malaria back in Africa.This was in 1996.The docter who attended me ,put me on a quinine drip for 24 hour became well ,but then been having a ringing sound in both ears.
I am using this blog to ask as to whether there is any proven cure out there for this condition .Its bothering me and l cannot concentrate on anything.