EPHEDRA MA HUANG EPHEDRA

EPHEDRA, MA HUANG (Ephedra spp.) XXX
 
Usually referred to as Ephedra sinica Stapf.

Activities (Ephedra) :
- Analeptic (f; HHB); Analgesic (f; WHO); Anorectic (1; APA; FNF); Antiallergic (1; APA; BGB; HHB); Antibacterial (2; KOM; PH2); Antiedemic (1; FNF); Antihistaminic (1; WAM); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; FNF); Antiobesity (1; WHO); Antitussive (1; BGB; KOM; PH2; SHT); Antiviral (f; WHO); Astringent (PED); Bitter (PED); Bronchodilator (2; BGB; SHT; WAM); Cardiotonic (1; PED; PNC; WHO); Catabolic (1; AKT; FNF); CNS Stimulant (2; AKT; KOM; PH2; SHT; WHO); Convulsant (1; DAA); Decongestant (1; APA; BGB; SKY); Diaphoretic (f; AKT; BGB; PED; PH2); Diuretic (1; APA; FNF; PED); Expectorant (1; PED; WHO); Hypertensive (1; APA; SHT; WHO); Immunostimulant (f; WHO); Mydriatic (1; HHB; PED; WHO); Myorelaxant (f; AKT); Positive Chronotropic (2; PHR; PH2); Positive Inotropic (2; PHR; PH2); Stimulant (1; PHR; PED; WAM); Sympathomimetic (2; KOM; PH2; PNC; WHO); Thermogenic (1; APA; PED; WHO); Uterocontractant (1; PED); Vasoconstrictor (2; APA; SHT; WHO).

Indications (Ephedra) :
- Allergy (2; APA; BGB; HHB; WAM); Arthrosis (f; APA; DAA; PH2); Asthma (2; AKT; PHR; SKY; WAM); Bacteria (2; KOM; PH2); Bronchosis (2; BGB; PHR; PH2; WHO); Bronchospasm (2; APA; KOM); Childbirth (f; DAA); Chill (f; AKT; BGB; DAA); Cold (2; APA; WHO); Congestion (1; APA; BGB; SKY); Coryza (2; BGB; WHO); Cough (2; DAA; PHR; PH2; SKY); Cramp (f; BGB); Diarrhea (f; HHB); Dyspnea (f; PH2); Dysuria (f; DAA); Edema (f; DAA); Enuresis (1; WHO); Exophthalmia (f; HHB); Fever (f; AKT; APA; BGB; PED; PH2); Flu (1; APA; BGB; DAA); Hay Fever (f; APA; BGB; DAA); Headache (f; APA; HHB); Hives (f; APA); Immunodepression (f; WHO); Incontinence (1; WHO); Inflammation (1; APA; FNF); Itch (f; DAA); Lethargy (1; FNF); Low Blood Pressure (1; APA; DAA; SHT; WHO); Malaria (f; DAA); Myalgia (f; BGB); Myasthenia Gravis (1; WHO); Narcolepsy (1; WHO); Nasal Congestion (1; SKY); Nephrosis (f; DAA); Night Sweats (f; DAA); Obesity (1; AKT; BGB; SKY; WHO); Osteosis (f; APA; BGB; PH2); Pain (f; PH2; WHO); Pertussis (1; BGB); Pneumonia (1; BGB); Pulmonosis (1; WAM); Respirosis (2; APA; KOM); Rheumatism (f; HHB); Rhinosis (1; BGB; WHO); Sinusosis (2; DAA; WAM; WHO); Swelling (1; FNF); Tracheosis (f; DAA); Urticaria (1; WHO); Virus (f; WHO); Water Retention (1; APA; FNF; PED).

Dosages (Ephedra) :
- 2 g/240 ml water providing 15 - 30 mg ephedrine (APA); herb equivalent to 15 - 30 mg total alkaloid, calculated as ephedrine (KOM); 2 - 4 tbsp fresh herb (PED); 3 - 6 g dry herb (PED); 4.5 g dry herb:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water (PED); 1 - 4 g herb/cup water, to 3 ×/day (PH2); 15 - 30 mg total alkaloid per dose, to 120 mg/day; childs single dose 0.5 mg/kg (PH2); 1 - 4 g powdered stem (PNC); 1 - 3 ml liquid extract (PNC); 1 - 4 ml tincture 3 ×/day (SKY). Surprisingly, as the FDA considers withdrawing ephedra, Commission E approved ma huang for, Diseases of the respiratory tract with mild bronchospasms in adults, single dosages of herb equivalent to 15 - 30 mg total alkaloid, not to exceed 300 mg alkaloid a day, and children over age six years, 0.5 mg total alkaloid/kg body weight) (KOM).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Ephedra) :
- Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Contraindicated in anorexia, anxiety, bulimia, cerebral perfusion, diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, pheochromocytoma, prostatadenoma, restlessness, and thyrotoxicosis (KOM; PH2; SHT; SKY). Thyroid stimulant, not recommended for long-term use. The herb and/or its ephedrine can cause addiction, anxiety, anorexia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, dysuria, flushing, headache, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, nausea, nervousness, palpitations, restlessness, tachycardia, uterocontraction, vomiting, and xerostomia (KOM; PH2; SHT; SKY). Commission E reports contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of the major alkaloid, ephedrine. Not to be used for prolonged period. Not to be taken with MAOIs. May potentiate MAOIs (AHP). Ephedra-based products should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation, and used with caution in children <6 years old (SKY). More than 100 g herb (~ = 1 - 2 g L-ephedrine) can be lethally toxic in humans. Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine can be safely used by adults at a dose of 12.5 - 25 mg every four hours. Adults should take no more than 150 mg every twenty-four hours (SKY). A 60 mg dose of pseudoephedrine every six hours is usually recommended. (Lininger et al., 1998). Ephedrine-containing substances have been listed as addictive by the International Olympic Committee (KOM). The LD50 of ephedrine is reported at 500 mg/kg orl man (PED), making it about half as toxic as caffeine. Although I have given this my triple X, I still think it one of the best antiasthmatic herbs, and quite useful in other respiratory conditions.