Ephedrine's effects, functions and side effects

Ephedra, also known as grass ephedra and Chinese ephedra, is a woody plant. The emerald green herbaceous stems are harvested in autumn and dried. It is warm in nature, pungent in taste and a little bitter. It has the effects of sweating and dispelling cold, promoting lung function and relieving asthma, promoting dampness and reducing swelling. It can treat symptoms such as colds, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, edema, and bronchial asthma.

There are three types of ephedra, Ephedra herbacea, Ephedra equisetum, and Ephedra intermedia. They are herbaceous shrubs with herbaceous stems and are also important medicinal plants. It is rich in flavonoids and is an important resource for obtaining ephedrine. It has few woody stems and is easy to process and extract. Because it often grows in plains, hillsides, rivers, grasslands, etc., it is easy to harvest. Since ephedra has a good sweating ability, it should not be used or used with caution for mild symptoms of wind-cold, palpitations, insomnia, lung deficiency cough, etc. Roasted ephedra is suitable for the elderly, people with qi and blood deficiency, and children.

Ephedra's efficacy and effects

Ephedra is pungent, slightly bitter and warm. It enters the lung and bladder meridians. It has the effects of sweating and dispelling cold, promoting lung function and relieving asthma, and promoting dampness and reducing swelling. Used for colds, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, edema and bronchial asthma. Honey ephedra can relieve cough and moisten the lungs. It is mostly used to treat symptoms such as asthma and cough.

1. Antiasthmatic effect: Ephedrine has a relaxant effect on bronchial smooth muscles, and has a significant antispasmodic effect on bronchial spasms caused by taking medicines (such as pilocarpine). Pseudoephedrine has a similar antispasmodic effect to ephedrine, and methylephedrine can dilate the bronchi.

2. Antitussive effect: Ephedra extract has a significant antitussive effect on cough caused by mechanical irritation of bronchial machinery in guinea pigs, which is approximately equivalent to 1/20 of the effect of codeine phosphate.

3. Effects on the endocrine system: Ephedrine can cause peripheral blood vessels to contract, increase cardiac contraction, increase cardiac output, and raise blood pressure. Pseudoephedrine has a poorer pressure-changing effect.

4. Sweating effect: When rats were orally administered with the water-soluble extract in the range of 75-300 mg/kg, the release of water (sweating) at the soles of their feet showed a dosage-dependent sweating effect.