Herba Ephedrae Ephedra Stem
Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Warm
- Nature & Flavour
- Spicy, Slightly Bitter, Warm
- Channels Entered
- LU, BL
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Herba Ephedrae
- Chinese
- 麻黄
- Tone Marks
- má huáng
- Translation
- Hemp Yellow
Chinese Herb Actions
- Releases the Exterior and Disperses Wind-Cold For Wind-Cold excess patterns with fever, chills, headache, lack of sweating, and a tight, floating pulse. Opens the pores and induces sweating.
- Stops Wheezing and Asthma Obstruction of Lung Qi due to exterior Wind-Cold or wheezing from an internal condition.
- Reduces Edema and Promotes Urination Especially due to obstruction from external Wind-Cold pathogen.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 3-9 grams.
- Part used: Twigs or stems.
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Long-term or overuse causes heavy sweating and weakens the body. May also raise blood pressure, do not use if patient has insomnia, spontaneous sweating, high blood pressure, or cardiac arrhythmias. Toasting with honey reduces the dispersing nature of this herb.
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- There has been 3 reported cases of ephedrine toxicity, after ingestion of 15ml of a 1% solution. Symptoms included diaphoresis, epigastric pain, vomiting, nausea, and temperature elevation.
Herb-Drug Interactions
- Ma Huang contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine which interferes with Sympathomimic (anti-seizure) and Cariovascular drugs.
- Ma Huang (Ephedra) and MAOI can cause dangerously high blood pressure. FDA proposed a dosage limit of 8 mg every 6 hours (or a total of 24 mg per day) and not more than 7 days of continuous use.
Chinese Herb Notes
- Cook first and remove foam from the surface of decoction.
- Use raw for exterior wind-cold, coat with honey to treat asthma.
This herb is considered endangered, toxic, or is illegal in the United States
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
https://amzn.to/42aMz73
https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt