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Ephedra, Ma Huang 麻黄Ma Huang (TCM)
Som Kalapna, Masania, Narom, Soma Kalpa (Unani) Mtshe ldum མཚེ་ལྡུམ (Tibetan) |
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Ephedra spp.
Alpini, P., De plantis exoticis libri duo, 1629
Alpini, P., De plantis exoticis libri duo, 1629
E. distachya
Camerarius, J., Hortus medicus et philosophicus, 1588
Camerarius, J., Hortus medicus et philosophicus, 1588
E. pachyclada
Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 2nd series: Botany, (1887)
Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 2nd series: Botany, (1887)
Above: Ephedra growing wild near Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
Right: fresh Wild Ephedra (Adam, 2017) |
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Botanical name:
Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia, E. equisetina (TCM)
E. vulgaris, E. gerardiana, E. intermedia and E. pachyclada have been used from Central Asia to Europe.
In Tibetan Medicine, E. sinica, E. intermedia and E. saxatilis are used
Parts used:
Herb
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, slightly Bitter
Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia, E. equisetina (TCM)
E. vulgaris, E. gerardiana, E. intermedia and E. pachyclada have been used from Central Asia to Europe.
In Tibetan Medicine, E. sinica, E. intermedia and E. saxatilis are used
Parts used:
Herb
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, slightly Bitter
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Clears the Exterior:
-wind-cold cold and flu with chills, fever, headache, lack of sweating
-acute and chronic Fever (Tibetan Medicine)
2. Opens the Lungs, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Cough and Wheezing from wind-cold
-can be used for Wheezing and Asthma from any cause depending on the medicines it is combined with
3. Clears Cold and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema (especially of an acute nature in TCM)
4. Clears Wind-Cold-Damp, Opens Obstruction, Relieves Pain:
-painful Obstruction of the muscles and joints from Wind, Cold and Damp
-acute muscular and articular Rheumatism
-also toxic sores which don't form a head
-disperses Tumors and Swellings (Tibetan Medicine)
PREPARATION:
1. Sometimes the nodes are removed; they are said to decrease the diaphoretic effect, so removing them enhances diaphoresis.
2. Steeping in boiling water until the froth rises, then removing the herb and drying lessens agitation, but is slightly weaker to cause sweating.
3. The herb can be stir-fried with a little water. This reduces the diaphoretic effect, but is better for the Lungs.
4. Honey-fried Ephedra is a way of correcting Ephedra. It is not as dispersing, milder in effect, but has a secondary strengthening effect and its effect on the Lungs is believed to be more prolonged.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Honey, Licorice
2. Tragacanth, Gum Arabic
SUBSTITUTES:
1. Hyssop, Adhatoda vasica (Unani)
2. Maidenhair
3. Ficus religiosa bark has been used as a substitute for Ephedra in the Himalayas.
DOSE:
2–9 grams (daily dose) in decoction; 500mg–1 ½ grams in powder
Note the froth that forms when boiling should be removed as this part can cause agitation.
1. Sometimes the nodes are removed; they are said to decrease the diaphoretic effect, so removing them enhances diaphoresis.
2. Steeping in boiling water until the froth rises, then removing the herb and drying lessens agitation, but is slightly weaker to cause sweating.
3. The herb can be stir-fried with a little water. This reduces the diaphoretic effect, but is better for the Lungs.
4. Honey-fried Ephedra is a way of correcting Ephedra. It is not as dispersing, milder in effect, but has a secondary strengthening effect and its effect on the Lungs is believed to be more prolonged.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Honey, Licorice
2. Tragacanth, Gum Arabic
SUBSTITUTES:
1. Hyssop, Adhatoda vasica (Unani)
2. Maidenhair
3. Ficus religiosa bark has been used as a substitute for Ephedra in the Himalayas.
DOSE:
2–9 grams (daily dose) in decoction; 500mg–1 ½ grams in powder
Note the froth that forms when boiling should be removed as this part can cause agitation.
Main Combinations:
Ephedra & Apricot kernel
1. Wind-Cold Cold and Flu:
i. Ephedra with Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi (TCM)
ii. Ephedra with Cinnamon, Ginger (Ayurveda)
2. Cough and Wheezing:
i. Ephedra with Bitter Almond / Apricot kernel Xing Ren and Licorice
ii. from Heat, Ephedra with Bitter Almond / Apricot kernel Xing Ren, Gypsum Shi Gao, Licorice (as in Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang)
iii. Cough, Asthma, Bronchitis, Ephedra with Licorice, Platycodon Jie Geng, Morus Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry root-bark) (as in Zhen Ke Ning Tang Jiang of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
iv. acute Heat-Phlegm, Ephedra with Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu, Platycodon Jie Geng, Arisaema Tian Nan Xing, Bitter Almond (Xing Ren), Scutellaria Huang Qin, Citrus Chen Pi, Licorice (as in Bao Ke Ning Keli of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
v. from Cold, Ephedra with Bitter Almond / Apricot kernel Xing Ren, Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi and Licorice (as in Ma Huang Tang)
vi. from deficiency, Ephedra with Ginseng and Licorice
vii. Lung congestion, allergic Bronchitis or Asthma, Ephedra, Adhatoda, Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
3. Edema, Water retention, Ephedra, Tribulus, Coriander seed
4. For Wind-Cold-Damp arthritic pain, combine Ephedra with Aconitum Fu Zi
5. Trauma, Bruising, Pain, Swelling, Fractures, Ephedra with Frankincense, Myrrh, prepared Nux Vomica. (as in Jiu Fen San)
6. Traumatic injury, Sprain, Strain, Bruising, stabbing pain, Dislocation, Fracture, Ephedra with Dang Gui, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Frankincense, Myrrh, Dragons Blood, Eupolphaga Tu Bie Chong (Wingless Cockroach) (as in Die Da Wan).
Major Formulas:
Ma Huang Tang
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Die Da Wan
Jiu Fen San
Feng Shi Ma Qian Pian
Cautions:
1. Toxic in large doses; 30 grams can be toxic to an adult.
2. It can drain the Lung Qi so should be used carefully in those with deficiency. Combining with Licorice and/or Ginseng can correct this.
3. Not used for sweating or night sweats from deficiency.
4. Not used in Hypertension.
DRUG INTERACTION:
Due to Ephedrine content, may interact with:
1. Caffeine and MAO inhibitors, increasing blood pressure
2. Beta-Blockers (reduces efficacy due to opposing action)
3. Ephedrine medication (such as Sudafed), causing ephedrine toxicity, arrhythmia etc.
4. Steroids (dexamethasone), enhancing clearance thereby reducing effectiveness.
Main Preparations used:
1. Toxic in large doses; 30 grams can be toxic to an adult.
2. It can drain the Lung Qi so should be used carefully in those with deficiency. Combining with Licorice and/or Ginseng can correct this.
3. Not used for sweating or night sweats from deficiency.
4. Not used in Hypertension.
DRUG INTERACTION:
Due to Ephedrine content, may interact with:
1. Caffeine and MAO inhibitors, increasing blood pressure
2. Beta-Blockers (reduces efficacy due to opposing action)
3. Ephedrine medication (such as Sudafed), causing ephedrine toxicity, arrhythmia etc.
4. Steroids (dexamethasone), enhancing clearance thereby reducing effectiveness.
Main Preparations used: