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12.
EPHDRA SINICA
Eng.
= Ephedra; Ind. = Ma
Huang
Habitat
and Description
Ephedra
is an evergreen shrub with tiny leaves and small greenish yellow flowers.
It can be found in deserts or dry regions throughout the world.
It contains two important alkaloids, ephedrine and psudoephedrine. These alkaloids have been used in conventional medicines as
important drugs for the treatment of respiratory problems.
Parts
used : Sems
Actions
: Diaphoretic,
diuretic, bronchodilator
Theratpeutic
uses
·
In
Arthritis and related disorders
Ephedra
has been used in the treatment of Arthritis since ancient times.
It is fail-safe remedy for Arthritis, as it does not produce any
side-effects on the heart. It is generally used in acute cases of Arthritis and hence
given for 2 to 3 weeks to bring relief from painful and inflamed joints.
Its use in chronic cases of Arthritis is dubious
·
Other
uses
It
is highly useful in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
It is also helpful in decreasing a person’s craving for foods
and, therefore, helpful in obesity. It is an excellent stimulant for the heart.
It helps in the promotion of menstruation.
It is also used in hay fever and allergic dermatitis.
Mode
of Administration and Dosage
The
usual dosage is 30 mg of alkaloid ephedrine thrice daily.
The maximum dose is 300 mg of alkaloid ephedrine.
The herb can be taken either in the form of tinctures, powder or in
the form of infusion but the amount of ephedrine should not exceed the
maximum dose.
Precaution
Ephedra
is safe if taken in proper doses. Patients
suffering from hypertension, cardiac diseases, thyroid disorders, diabetes
and enlarged prostate should not use it.
In large doses, it may cause many side-effects such as high blood
pressure, sleeplessness, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
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