Overview

Quillaia is a plant. The inner bark is used as medicine.

Quillaia is used for the common cold, cough, bronchitis, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using quillaia can also be unsafe when ingested in large amounts.

In foods, quillaia is used in frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins, and puddings. It is also used in beverages and cocktails and as a foaming agent in root beer.

In manufacturing, quillaia extracts are used in skin creams. Quillaia is also used as a foaming agent in fire extinguishers.

In South America, quillaia bark is used to wash clothes.

How does it work ?

Quillaia contains high concentrations of tannins. Tannins can thin mucous to make it easier to cough up. Quillaia also contains chemicals called saponins. Saponins seem to prevent some types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses from attaching to and infecting healthy cells. These chemicals may also help stimulate the immune system when given with vaccines. Saponins from quillaia also seem to attach to dietary fat in the stomach. This may lower blood fat such as cholesterol by preventing the fat from getting into the blood or other organs.

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© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.