Mahuang Herba Ephedrae
The source is from the herbaceous stem of Ephedra sinica stapf, Eintermedia schrenk et C. A. Mey, and E. equisetina Bunge, family Ephedraceae. The producing areas are mainly in Hebei, Shanxi, Gansu provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, etc.. The medicinal material is collected in autumn, dried in shade and cut into pieces. Its commonly used form is crude one or the one prepared with honey.
Medicinal Properties Pungent and slightly bitter in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the lung and bladder meridians.
Actions Induce sweating to relieve superficies disperse the lung to relieve asthma and promote diuresis to subside edema.
Application
1. It is used for superficial syndrome due to wind and cold. Since the medicinal herb can strongly promote sweating, it is often used for superficial sthenia-syndrome due to wind and cold, which is manifested as aversion to cold, fever, anhidrosis, headache, stuffy nose, floating and tight pulse. It is often used in combination with Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi ), such as Mahuang Tang (Decoction).
2. For sthenia£ºsyndromes with cough and dyspnea. It is indicated for all syndromes such as cough and dyspnea due to stagnation of lung-qi, or cold, heat, phlegm or retention of fluids whether they have superficial syndrome or not. It is combined with Xingren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae) and Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), such as San' ao Tang (Decoction) for cough and dyspnea due to accumulation of wind and cold in the lung. It is combined with Ganjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis ), Xixin ( Herba Asari), Banxia ( Rhizoma Pinelliae), etc., like Xiaoqinglong Tang (Decoction) for retention of cold-fluid in the lung manifested as profuse watery sputum. It may also be combined with Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum ), Xingren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae ) and Gancao ( Radix Glycyrrhizae) to treat syndrome with asthma and yellowish-thick sputum due to stagnancy of lung-heat, such as Mahuang Xingren Gancao Shigao Tang (Decoction) to clear away lung heat and relieve dyspnea and cough.
3. For wind edema with exterior syndromes, it is of- ten combined with Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens ) , Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae ), Gancao (Radix Gtycyrrhizae), etc., such as Yuebi Jia Zhu Tang (Decoction).
Besides, it is also indicated for wind-cold Bi-syndrome, deep-rooted carbuncle of yin type, subcutaneous nodule, etc.. It is often combined with Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparatae ) , Rougui ( Cortex Cinnamomi), Lujiaojiao ( Cotla Cornu Cervi ), etc., such as Yanghe Tang (Decoction) to treat the deep-rooted carbuncle of yin type.
Usage and Dosage 3 -9 g is used in decoction for oral use; the crude form is suitable for inducing sweating to relieve superficies and the prepared form with honey for relieving cough and dyspnea.
Notes It is not used excessively and contraindicated in conditions of spontaneous perspiration due to exterior deficiency, night sweating due to yin deficiency, asthenia-dyspnea and high blood pressure.
