The Daily Herb - Ma Huang

Ma Huang - Aka Ephedra

Channels: LU, BL

Properties: Warm, Acrid, Release exterior

Latin: Herba Ephedrae

Chinese Herb Actions

Releases the Exterior and Disperses Wind-Cold Used to treat 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 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.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Ma Huang contains ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine which interferes with Sympathomimic (anti-seizure) and Cardiovascular 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 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.

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