Side effects of Chinese medicine ephedra

Ephedra and Poria have a pungent, warm and dispersing effect, which can replenish deficiency, dispel cold and induce sweating. They contain ephedrine, which can stimulate the nervous center. If used excessively, they may cause side effects such as panic, sweating, irritability, and insomnia. In severe cases, they may cause dizziness, low blood pressure, and even postural hypotensive shock. Therefore, we must be careful when using ephedra. There are two kinds of processed ephedra on the market at present, raw ephedra and roasted ephedra. If the side effects are greater and more obvious, then when making a decoction containing raw ephedra, it is necessary to remove the foam. When raw ephedra is decocted, a layer of white foam will be produced, which contains a lot of ephedrine.

Therefore, when decocting raw ephedra preparations, the white foam must be removed, which will reduce the side effects of ephedra; if it is roasted ephedra, the white foam will be significantly reduced, so the side effects of processed ephedra are relatively small.

Ephedra is a kind of antipyretic medicine that can induce sweating, replenish deficiency, clear the lungs and stop asthma. It has a very good therapeutic effect on colds caused by wind and cold. However, all medicines are poisonous to some extent, and the main toxic side effect of ephedra comes from the ephedrine in it. Ephedrine is an adrenomimetic drug that can stimulate smooth muscles, cause contraction of the skin, mucous membranes and blood vessels, and cause symptoms such as arrhythmia, dizziness, headache, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sweating, increased urination and nausea. Patients with hypertension are also prone to sudden increases in blood pressure. Therefore, when ephedra is used in clinical medicine, it is generally processed into Chinese medicine. Ephedra processed into Chinese medicine has relatively fewer side effects.

Ephedra is the dried stem of the herb Ephedrae of the Ephedraceae family and is a medicine for relieving cold. It has the effects of sweating, relieving cough and phlegm, relieving asthma, reducing fever, relieving pain, and stimulating nerve centers. Ephedrine obtained from ephedra has been widely used in clinical medicine. This drug has toxic side effects. It can have good effects if used for symptomatic treatment, but it will cause toxic side effects if used improperly. All medicines are poisonous. The side effects of ephedra mainly include headache, dizziness, nausea, irritation of gastric mucosa, diarrhea, anxiety, mental agitation, dry mouth, restlessness, nervous insomnia, decreased appetite, sweating, increased urination, etc. When used, symptomatic treatment is required.