Ephedra Herb Effects and Functions

Ephedra is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine recorded in secret in the ancient Shennong's Herbal Classic. It is said that it has a history of use of more than 4,000 years. In the Treatise on Febrile Diseases written by Zhang Zhongjing, a famous Han Dynasty figure, ephedra is a panacea for treating typhoid fever. But after entering the modern society, people's understanding of traditional Chinese medicine has become less and less, and many people don't know what the effects of ephedra are. Today I will give you a detailed introduction, and at the same time let everyone have a comprehensive understanding of the side effects of ephedra.

Ephedra grows in the mountains. People who are not familiar with it always regard it as an ordinary grass. In fact, ephedra is also a medicine. It is a perennial woody plant. It is the dried herbaceous stem of ephedra, ephedra middle or ephedra equisetum of the Ephedraceae family. It has a wide range of uses as a traditional Chinese medicine. Ephedra is a traditional Chinese medicine and is also the raw material for producing methamphetamine. It is native to Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and other places. It is green in summer, turns light yellow in autumn, and is withered light yellow in winter. It returns to pink green in the autumn and winter of the following year, with a hint of light yellow. It grows perfectly in deserts and Gobi deserts. It grows when it rains. It grows fast. It likes drought-stricken areas and desert climates and has strong drought resistance and adaptability.

Ephedra is pungent, slightly bitter and warm in nature, and has the effects of inducing sweating and dispelling cold, promoting lung function and relieving asthma, and promoting dampness and reducing swelling. Organic chemical experiments include ephedrine, urea-stimulating agents, vitamins, carbohydrates and various nutrients and essential oils. Animal experiments have shown that it has the effect of increasing blood pressure and left ventricular smooth muscle, and also promotes urination and sweating. Ephedra root can eliminate sweat, and ephedra fruit can accelerate blood flow to the face and promote the restoration of vision. It is a good treatment for colds, coughs, pneumonia, urethritis, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, arthritis, gout, etc.

It is used to treat asthma and cough caused by external cold symptoms and lung qi deficiency and stagnation. It can invigorate the lungs, dispel cold symptoms and stop wheezing. When combined with sweet almonds and licorice, it is called Sanao Decoction, which can enhance the anti-asthmatic effect. If there is also cold fluid in the body, it can be combined with asarum, roasted ginger, pinellia, etc. to warm and transform the cold fluid to stop asthma, cough and phlegm, such as Xiaoqinglong Decoction. If the asthma and cough are caused by heat evil blocking the lungs, it can be combined with gypsum, sweet almonds, licorice, etc. to moisten the lungs and stop asthma, namely Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction.

Ephedra sinica and its seeds are harmful. After taking them in large quantities and getting poisoned, the main initial symptoms are excitement of the nervous center, nervous tension, restlessness, irritability, palpitations, tachycardia, headache, dizziness, shaking, sweating and fever. Some people have nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal distension and pain, dilated pupils, or difficulty in defecation and pain in the precordial area. Those with moderate to severe poisoning will have blurred vision, difficulty breathing, convulsions, and eventually die of respiratory failure and atrial fibrillation. Frequent consumption can easily lead to addiction, and doctors generally restrict it, saying it is a stimulant and is not suitable for athletes. Ephedra is a state-controlled traditional Chinese medicine and must be planted and circulated under the strict supervision of public security departments.