What side effects does the medicinal plant Ephedra have? Introduction to cultivation techniques and pharmacological uses

Ephedra, also known as Chinese ephedra, is used as an herbal medicine, and its medicinal source is the dried herbaceous stems of the Ephedraceae plants Ephedra sinica, Ephedra intermedia, or Ephedra equisetina. So what side effects does Ephedra have? What are the effects of Ephedra? What are the pharmacological uses of Ephedra? What are the cultivation techniques for Ephedra? Let's take a look together.

1. What side effects does Ephedra have?

Ephedra poisoning initially presents as symptoms of central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system excitation, such as restlessness, nervousness, headache and dizziness, tinnitus and insomnia, nausea and vomiting, upper abdominal discomfort, thirst and sweating, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, palpitations and shortness of breath, and precordial pain; in severe cases, difficulty urinating, blurred vision, shock, coma, and difficulty breathing, ultimately leading to death from respiratory failure and ventricular fibrillation. At the same time, long-term use of Ephedra can cause addiction.

2. The effects and actions of Ephedra

1. Used for exterior excess patterns such as externally contracted wind-cold, aversion to cold and fever, headache and body pain, nasal congestion, absence of sweating, and floating and tight pulse. This product can diffuse lung qi, open the interstices, and disperse wind-cold to induce sweating and release the exterior. It is often used synergistically with Guizhi (cassia twig) to enhance the power of inducing sweating and releasing the exterior, such as in Mahuang Tang.

2. Used for wheezing and coughing patterns caused by wind-cold binding the exterior and lung qi being congested. It can open and diffuse lung qi, disperse wind-cold, and calm wheezing. When combined with Xingren (apricot seed) and Gancao (licorice), it forms San'ao Tang, which can enhance the wheezing-calming effect; if there is concurrent internal cold fluid, it can be combined with Xixin (asarum), Ganjiang (dried ginger), Banxia (pinellia), etc., to warm and transform cold fluid and calm wheezing and stop coughing, such as in Xiao Qinglong Tang; if the wheezing and coughing are caused by heat pathogen congesting the lung, it can be combined with Shigao (gypsum), Xingren (apricot seed), Gancao (licorice), etc., to clear the lung and calm wheezing, namely Maxing Shigan Tang.

3. Used for edema with concurrent exterior patterns, it is a key medicine for diffusing lung qi and promoting urination. This product induces sweating and promotes water metabolism, helping to resolve edema, and is often used with Shengjiang (fresh ginger), Baizhu (atractylodes), etc., such as in Yuebi Jiazhu Tang.

4. By taking advantage of Ephedra's effect of warming and dispersing cold pathogens, combined with other corresponding medicines, it can treat wind-damp impediment pain as well as patterns such as yin abscess and phlegm nodes.

3. Pharmacological uses of Ephedra

1. For edema with concurrent exterior patterns, Ephedra can serve as a good medicine for diffusing lung qi and promoting urination. It can induce sweating and promote water metabolism, helping to resolve edema, and is often used with Shengjiang (fresh ginger), Baizhu (atractylodes), etc., such as in Yuebi Jiazhu Tang. It is very suitable for patients with edema to take, and the treatment effect is very ideal.

2. Warming and dispersing cold pathogens, combined with other corresponding medicines, can treat wind-damp impediment pain as well as patterns such as yin abscess and phlegm nodes. When combined with Shudi (prepared rehmannia), Rougui (cinnamon bark), Baijiezi (white mustard seed), etc., such as in Yanghe Tang. Taking this product can warm and disperse cold pathogens.

3. It has significant therapeutic effects on some exterior excess patterns such as externally contracted wind-cold, aversion to cold and fever, headache and body pain, nasal congestion, absence of sweating, and floating and tight pulse. This product can diffuse lung qi, open the interstices, and disperse wind-cold to induce sweating and release the exterior. It is often used synergistically with Guizhi (cassia twig) to enhance the power of inducing sweating and releasing the exterior, such as in Mahuang Tang.

4. Wheezing and coughing patterns caused by wind-cold binding the exterior and lung qi being congested. It can open and diffuse lung qi, disperse wind-cold, and calm wheezing. When combined with Xingren (apricot seed) and Gancao (licorice), it forms San'ao Tang, which can enhance the wheezing-calming effect; if there is concurrent internal cold fluid, it can be combined with Xixin (asarum), Ganjiang (dried ginger), Banxia (pinellia), etc., to warm and transform cold fluid and calm wheezing and stop coughing, such as in Xiao Qinglong Tang; if the wheezing and coughing are caused by heat pathogen congesting the lung, then one can choose to combine Ephedra with Shigao (gypsum), Xingren (apricot seed), Gancao (licorice), etc., to clear the lung and calm wheezing, namely Maxing Shigan Tang. People with coughing and wheezing can choose to take this formula for improvement, and the effect is very good.

4. Cultivation techniques for Ephedra

1. Variety selection

There are many varieties of Ephedra, about a dozen or so, but the most widely cultivated is Ephedra intermedia. Its yield and quality are both very good, and many pharmaceutical factories and manufacturers prefer to purchase Ephedra intermedia, so growing Ephedra intermedia has guarantees in both price and sales channels. Next, Ephedra equisetina and Ephedra sinica are also fairly good choices. Of course, you can make a choice according to your region, whether to choose one with good drought resistance, good disease resistance, or good cold resistance.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

Ephedra cultivation generally chooses deep plots with relatively complete soil structure, very strong permeability, and a complete drainage system. It is best to choose an area close to a water source, which facilitates irrigation and drainage, and the land should try not to be clayey soil, as this has poor permeability and is not suitable for Ephedra growth. When preparing the land, the soil should be broken up finer, and if possible the land should be deep-plowed as much as possible. Finally, when preparing the land, apply sufficient base fertilizer. On average, one mu of land requires about 4,000 to 5,000 jin of farmyard manure mixed with about 40 jin of nitrogen fertilizer and about 40 jin of potassium fertilizer, evenly scattered in the field.

3. Sowing and raising seedlings

Ephedra seeds are very expensive, so care must be taken when sowing; otherwise, if sprouting fails, the loss will be serious. Therefore, before sowing we carry out corresponding seed treatment. First, we soak Ephedra in warm water at about 30 degrees for three to four hours, then remove it and soak it in a Yumiaoling solution for about two hours. To enhance the resistance of Ephedra, we can at this time stir the seeds with some agents, then mix them with a layer of sand, and place them at a suitable temperature for germination. After about three days, most of the seeds have already sprouted white buds, and at this point they can be sown. When sowing, we can use hole sowing or drill sowing. The distance between each plant is about 25 cm, and the distance between each row is about 30 cm. Evenly scatter the seeds on the prepared ground, then cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

4. Field management

The first step in field management is to check whether thinning and replanting are needed. In places where more seeds have sprouted in the field, we can keep only three to four plants and pull out the rest, then replant seedlings in places where growth is relatively sparse. When the Ephedra seedlings grow to five or six cm, the first intertillage and weeding can be carried out. Because there will be relatively many weeds during the growth of Ephedra, in order not to affect yield we must weed in a timely manner, then topdress with 1,000 jin of farmyard manure, 500 jin of urea, and 50 jin of phosphate fertilizer, then earth up and irrigate. In seasons with relatively heavy rainfall, we need to promptly go to the field to dredge the ditches and lead the rainwater away. The second fertilization is when Ephedra blooms; at this time it is to promote the flowering period and also to make it bear more fruit, so that more seeds can be collected when the time comes. Finally, to promote fruit growth, generally 500 jin of phosphate fertilizer, 50 jin of potassium fertilizer, and 40 jin of boron fertilizer are used.

5. Disease control

The common diseases and insect pests of Ephedra are damping-off and seedling blight. For damping-off, generally chlorothalonil is used for spraying, once every six to ten days, and after two or three times it will basically recover. As for seedling blight, if we have treated the seeds when sowing, it will basically not occur, but just in case, we should also carefully observe the growth changes of the plants, and then spray Baiduiling for prevention and control. Ephedra sometimes also has some insect pests, such as aphids and inchworms. Generally, dimethoate emulsion can be used for spraying. If it is relatively serious, then multiple sprayings are needed to alleviate the condition.

6. Timely harvesting

The best growth period for Ephedra can be said to be around June, so our harvesting time is generally in September. Since Ephedra can grow for many years, the harvesting method is to cut off the stems above the ground with a sickle, then clean the soil and sand off the stems, cut them into small sections, dry them in the sun, and finally package them.