Ma Huang
Species Name: Ephedra sinica
Also known as: Ephedra, alkaloids ephedrine, and pseudoehedrine, Ephedra sinica, l-ephedrine
Used for thousands of years as a diet aid, to manage allergy symptoms, asthma, the common cold, and hay fever, ma huang is a traditional feature in Chinese medicine.
In recent years, however, attention has been focused on the safety of Ephedra sinica, by the Food and Drug Administration.
Critics in the biomedical community have also expressed concerns due to the abuse of ma huang as a stimulant and diet aid, as a result of adverse effects of Ephedra sinica.
What is ma huang? This is a shrubby plant, in the genus Ephedra, which grows anywhere from North America to Africa to Asia. It is used as a source of ephedrine, which is a stimulant, often sold as pills or tablets, derived from plants of this genus.
Home remedies using Ma Huang:
Benefits of Ma Huang:
This herb is not without its talents. L-ephedrine can increase the contraction of heart muscle, therefore; it can increase cardiac output. L-ephedrine causes less arrhythmia than epinephrine, but if there are physical diseases of the heart present, or if patients are using digitalis it can cause arrhythmia.
L-ephedrine can cause systolic and diastolic pressure to go up. L-ephedrine can cause the smooth muscle to relax.
Ma huang water extract (boiled in water) also has antibiotic properties.
Uses of Ma Huang:
Ma huang has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to promote sweating, for colds due to excessive exposure to chill and wind, to treat the wheezing and coughing of asthma, and to promote urination (if taken when the liquid of the herb tea is cool).
It has been used to help control bed wetting, and nose bleeding. It has also been used for the treatment of diarrhea in small children.
It can be taken as an herbal tea; both hot or cold, or as a compress. Ma Huang is also available as an additive to diet aids or cold and allergy medicines.
Side Effects of Ma Huang:
Ephedra sinica is not normally given for long periods of use. People with medical conditions like heart or kidney problems should consult with a doctor before using.
In high doses ephedra can cause heart attacks, stroke, and seizures. It can cause systolic and diastolic blood pressure to go up. Those using digitalis are at risk for developing arrhythmia.
Toxic reactions include headache, restless, insomnia, palpitation, tightness in chest area, tears and nose dripping, fever, sweating nonstop, upper belly discomfort, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, body temperature and blood pressure rising, it can cause heart rate to go up.
Large doses can suppress and slow the heart. Ephedra is not intended for use in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Traditionally ma huang is not used in diet formulas nor as a recreational drug.
Avoid prescribing ma huang if you do not have the experience and diagnostic skill especially in pulse reading. It can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
Do not use with Furanzolidone. It may induce mania if used with phenelzine.
