Ephedra
|
Botanical Name |
Ephedra sinica |
|
Family |
Ephedraceae |
|
Other Names |
Ma huang |
|
Description |
Stems: slender |
|
Native to |
China |
|
Parts used |
Aerial stems |
|
Harvesting |
Autumn before the first frost |
|
Classification |
Bitter |
|
Actions |
Anti-allergenic, anti-asthmatic, astringent, bronchodilator, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, hypertensive, stimulant, vasodilator |
|
Constituents |
Alkaloids (up to 3%) ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, N-methyle-phedrine, ephedroxane, maokonine, transtorinem, the ephedradines A-D, feruloylhistamine, benzylmethylamine. Volatile oil – alpha terpineol, tetramethylpyrazine, terpinen-4-ol, linalool Tannins –catechin derivatives Saponin, flavone, essential oil Carbohydrates: sugars, starch |
|
Dosage |
1-4gm dried powder 3xs a day |
|
Respiratory |
Asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough |
|
Circulatory muscle joint |
Low blood pressure |
|
Notes |
Ephedra is derived from the Greek “epi” meaning upon and “edra” meaning seat In Chinese Ma means astringent and haung means yellow |