Ephedra has been a common herbal medicine in china for thousands of years, and several species are important in ayurvedic medicine. Ephedra compacta attains a height of about 30 cm and e. The following databases may contain further information on this name. Physicians desk reference for herbal medicines, ed 2, p 489. Ephedra is considered one of the best herbs for the treatment of chills, fevers, cough and wheezing associated with colds and flus. Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, ephedraceae, and order, ephedrales. By contrast, other species of ephedra are considered windpollinated although this has only been rigorously tested for ephedra distachya 3,9. In the four corners area, ephedra viridis almost always grows upright to about 5 feet tall and wide. California ephedra plant provided various benefits for early. Ma huang seed pack ephedra sinica sacred seed garden.
Ephedra viridis is the most common ephedra in our area, but. Some asian species have been used as a source of the stimulant ephedrine, and many are important in herbal medicine. Ma huang is a powerful stimulant herb containing the alkaloid ephedrine, the main inspiration for todays popular overthecounter antihistamine drugs. Some dozen or so species occur in the western united states, with three ephedra viridis, ephedra cutleri, ephedra torreyana common in the four corners area. Aug 05, 2019 the whole ephedra sinica plant has traditionally been used to treat symptoms of bronchial asthma, colds, influenza, allergies, and hives in teas or tinctures.
Keep seeds in constant moisture with temperatures of about 68 degrees f also on erowid ephedra should be planted in dry locations. Do not cover the small seeds, but press gentle into the earth. Scientifically called ephedra sinica, it is a plant which has been used for its medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years. Moonlight pollination in the gymnosperm ephedra gnetales. The history of ephedra mahuang abstract ephedra is a chinese shrub which has been used in china for medicinal purposes for several thousand years. Scientific assessment of ephedra species ephedra spp. Recently, it is used to promote weight loss and bodybuilding community. The actual quantity may also differ considerably from that stated. Dec 17, 20 mormon tea ephedra mention of our midjune desert road trip on instagram this morning has compelled me to share a little nugget of knowledge that i gleaned on the trip. Ephedra is a shrub that is native to pakistan, china, and northwestern india.
The various species of ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern north america, southern europe, northern africa, southwest and central asia, northern china and western south america in temperate climates, most ephedra species grow on shores or in. To file a complaint of discrimination write usda, director, office. This is a rather attractive yet fascinating and curious, dwarf evergreen shrub rarely seen in gardens. Figure 1 the gymnosperm ephedra sinica, after drawings by h riedl. Safety concerns regarding ephedrinetype alkaloidcontaining. Green ephedra mormon tea is a dioecious, scraggly shrub rarely more than 60 cm to 150 cm high. Ephedra californica and ephedra viridis contain pseudoephedrine, but no ephedrine adams jr. It is commonly consumed in low doses and in combination with other herbs to promote urination, to. Pdf a new species of ephedra ephedraceae, ephedrales from. One famous species, ephedra sinica, is the source for the chinese supplement ma huang.
The plant list includes a further 79 scientific plant names of infraspecific rank for the genus ephedra. Derived from the dried rhizome and root of the plant, ephedra has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years in india, china and japan. So far swip has found out that the best way to extract the alkaloids from the plat matter is either of the following. Thus it superficially appears that these plants are an evolutionary link between the conifers and the true flowering plants. In an attempt to clarify the controversy surrounding the safety of. The plants database includes the following 19 species of ephedra. On apr 26, 2014, palmbob from acton, ca zone 8b wrote. Pharmacological effects depend on the phytocomposition of individual ephedra species. The ephedra plant is a perennial evergreen that stands 1 foot high, on average. Content versus label claims in ephedra containing dietary.
Various asian plants, particularly ma huang ephedra sinica, have been used as sources of the drug ephedrine. Ephedra products contain ephedra haulm or extracts of ephedra haulm and their ephedra alkaloid content differs widely. Pdf the medicinal significance of ephedra is based on the sympathomimetic properties of. People have used ephedra for centuries in china for colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Some ephedra species grow in the southwest desert of the united states. The medicinal plant, ephedra, yields ephedrine, which has been used in china as ma huang for more than 5000 years. Because ephedra contains stimulants, it can cause shakiness, insomnia, and headaches. The various species of ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern north america, southern europe, northern africa, southwest and central asia, northern china and western south america. Usually, the branches and tops are used to make medicine, but the root or whole plant can also be used. Ephedrine is one of the most commonly used noncatecholamine sympathomimetic drugs in the perioperative period. Ephedra is used in many overthecounter weight loss products. Ephedra sinica, also called ma huang, is a plant native to asia, though it also grows in other areas around the world.
The plant list does not attempt to include all infraspecific taxa. Context ephedra and ephedrine sometimes are used for weight loss or enhanced athletic performance, but the efficacy and safety of these compounds are uncertain. Ephedra and ephedrine complementary and alternative medicine. This herb is brewed as tea and could be found in the form of pill supplements. A utah flora and flora of the four corners region classify ephedra cutleri as a variety of ephedra viridis, a plant that grows to just a foot or two tall and is rhizomatous, spreading in 10 foot diameter circles. While the chemical constituents in the american ephedra plant is said to be less concentrated, it is still used for the same herbal purposes and said to have fewer side effects. Plants of the ephedra family the ephedras produce naked seeds like the pines, but they form on a colored, cuplike structure called a perianth. Ephedra containing supplements are banned for sale in the united. Ephedrine is used for temporary relief of shortness of breath. Ephedra sinica generally contains substantially greater concentrations of alkaloids than ephedra intermedia. Ephedra herb uses alternative nature online herbal. Cornett explains that the plant had other edible uses for some local tribes. Green ephedra stems and twigs are nearly all within reach of grazing animals, and. Ephedra altissima highclimbing jointfir ephedra antisyphilitica clapweed ephedra.
Return to the vascular plant image library entry page or search the library index. The plant list includes 157 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus ephedra. The aim of this study was to measure the total alkaloids content tac, total phenolics content tpc, and total flavonoids content tfc and determine their. Ephedra is a plantbased substance from the herb ephedra sinica. Ephedra viridis is the most common ephedra in our area, but any one of the three. The pure alkaloid ephedrine was first isolated and characterised by nagai in 1885. Shruby plant body usually remains less than two metres in height in most of the species. Please click on any button to follow a link to that database. Some asian species have been used as a source of the stimulant ephedrine, and many are important in. This ephedra extract has been a part of traditional chinese medicine for over 2,000 years.
We do not intend the plant list to be complete for names of infraspecific rank. Mahuang ephedra sinica potted seedling, organic strictly. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies andor birds. Cao ma huang a long time holy grail for richters, we are very pleased finally to be able to offer seeds of the true ma huang from inner mongolia. The source plant of the drug identified, as conifer vint is plantbased ephedra extracted. Because of adverse events and lack of efficacy, use is not recommended for weight loss or increased athletic performance. Ephedra is a low stalky shrub with jointed green to brown stems and tiny unnoticeable leaves.
It is also used by some athletes who believe it can improve their performance. Native to the steppes of northern china, mahuang prospers in full sun, dry soils, and is quite coldtolerant our. Several additional species belonging to the genus ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the soma plant of indoiranian religion. The medicinal significance of ephedra is based on the sympathomimetic properties of ephedrine e alkaloids. Ephedra ephedra californicaover 50 species of ephedra, or joint fir, can be found growing all around the world. Ephedra the ephedra family, ephedraceae, has but one genus, ephedra. Inhaled ephedrine was reported as a bronchodilator in 1910. When it comes to ephedra, the alkaloids of ephedrine in the plant matter are in its natural free base form, and is soluble in most solvents. It was then forgotten until it was rediscovered by chen and schmidt in the early 1920s. It forms dense ornamental tufts of slender, dark green, jointed, rushlike stems and eventually bears yellowishbrown flowers, interesting rather than beautiful, like clusters of. Chamberlain 1935 mentioned that ephedra is a shortlived plant. It has been used in traditional chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. Ephedra is an evergreen shrublike plant native to central asia, and mongolia. Content versus label claims in ephedracontaining dietary supplements article in american journal of healthsystem pharmacy 5710.
Green ephedra is an important browse species for big game and domestic livestock 9,21,37,51,53,57,92,111. To lose access to it is a serious setback to the practice of a 5000 year old traditional form of herbal medicine in america. Ephedra is a plant based substance from the herb ephedra sinica. It forms dense ornamental tufts of slender, dark green, jointed, rushlike stems and eventually bears yellowishbrown flowers, interesting rather than beautiful, like clusters of bark fragments. Probably the most effective approach is to prepare the planting site with the plants specific environmental needs in mind, and then plant at least 3, because this seems to reflect critical mass and because the plants are dioecious. Ephedra commonly known as joint pine, joint fir, mormon tea or brigham tea is the only genus in family ephedraceae and order ephedrales.
Ephedrine is obtained from the plant ephedra sinica and other members of the genus ephedra. Nearly leafless, the plant has slender, cylindrical, yellowgreen. Ephedra is an evolutionally isolated group and is the only genus in the order ephedrales. Ephedra contains the alkaloids ephedrine, pseudoephedrine isoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine cathine, norephedrine, methylephedrine, methylpseudoephedrine 8, tannins 9, and other constituents, including quinoline and 6hydroxykynurenic acid 10. Ephedrine is prescribed for colds, to break a fever and induce sweating, and as a decongestant and is now largely manufactured. Mormon tea or american ephedra comes from ephedra nevadensis, and ephedra or ma huang comes primarily from ephedra sinica. As most gymnosperms, ephedra produces liquid by secretion from the nucellus 6, 14, and the liquid is exposed as a pollination drop at the micropylar opening figure 1 b, c. Ebert, in pharmacology and physiology for anesthesia second edition, 2019.
Pdf a new species of ephedra ephedraceae, ephedrales. Ephedra ephedra californica over 50 species of ephedra, or joint fir, can be found growing all around the world. Seed germination, sowing instructions for ma huang. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. It may be combined with herbs containing caffeine such as guarana or with other substances in these supplements. Ephedrine is a natural product of the ephedra plant ephedra sinica, and is a mixedacting, noncatecholamine sympathomimetic with both direct and. Some of the supplements dangerous side effects can include seizures, chest pain, or stroke symptoms. America, found growing on dry slopes and hills, sandy plains, canyons, sandy and rocky places, deserts. The naked seeds are the features, which places ephedra with the classical group, the gymnosperms. Ephedra also referred to as ma huang is a plant material that contains numerous alkaloids, including lephedrine and dpseudoephedrine. It is heavily browsed by livestock and big game on winter range but only moderately or lightly browsed during other seasons 21,42,51. It is the source of ephedrine alkaloids and has an extremely long history of use in china. Ephedra is one of the most important herbs in chinese herbal medicine.
The plant in this photo is ephedra i dont know which species as there are several, commonly known as mormon tea. Ephedras role as a precursor in the clandestine manufacture. Common high desert plant in southwest particularly southern california, nevada and arizona. Ephedra and ephedrine complementary and alternative. Its been used in chinese medicine for thousands of years 1, 2. Ephedra major host is an accepted name this name is the accepted name of a species in the genus ephedra family ephedraceae. Perhaps the oldest medicinal plant known, ephedra is likely equated to soma, a. As most gymnosperms, ephedra produces liquid by secretion from the nucellus 6,14, and the liquid is exposed as a pollination drop at the micropylar opening figure 1 b,c. The microsporophylls are similar to the stamens of the flowering plant. Early mormon settlers made tea out of this toxic plant, reportedly, so hence the name. This ephedra extract has been a part of traditional chinese medicine for over 2,000 years in fact, ephedra is one of the oldest plants to be used medicinally by early humans. California ephedra plant provided various benefits for. Probably the most effective approach is to prepare the planting site with the plant s specific environmental needs in mind, and then plant at least 3, because this seems to reflect critical mass and because the plants are dioecious.
Supplements containing ephedra extracts are a popular herbal stimulant. Ephedra ephedra sinica plant profiler sigmaaldrich. Ephedra products are currently sold overthecounter in various forms such as tablets and capsules. Cardiovascular and cns effects article pdf available in canadian medical association journal 1665. These species grow in dry climate over wide areas of the northern hemisphere including north america,europe, north africa, and south west and central asia. Ephedra is a medicinal preparation from the plant ephedra sinica.
It is commonly consumed in low doses and in combination with other herbs to promote urination, to treat asthma, bronchitis and coughs. Pdf chemical composition of various ephedra species. Complementary and alternative medicine penn state hershey. Although ephedra is a natural product, it can still cause very serious reactions. The plant species ephedra sinica, ephedra equisetina, and ephedra intermedia, collectively known by their chinese name ma huang, are indigenous. Ephedra sinica use of dry plant matter the ethnobotanical. Ephedra, genus of 65 species of gymnosperm shrubs of the family ephedraceae.
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