Cough ephedra

Ephedrine is the main alkaloid produced in the roots of Ephedra sinica, preparations of which have found medical application in China for at least 5000 years. It was first purified from its natural source in 1887, and its chemical synthesis was achieved in 1927. It was initially used in cardiovascular medicine, but subsequently found wider application in the treatment of mild hayfever and asthma. It is also used as a nasal decongestant and cough suppressant. 

Ephedra distachya L. China 1-ephedrine, 1-methylephedrine, 1-norephedrine, methylephedrine, d-pseudoephedrinem, d-N-methy lpseudoephedrine. 30-3133 This herb is toxic. Treat asthma, sympathomimetic action, relieve headache, body ache, and coughing, lower fever by increasing perspiration. 

Ephedra has been used to treat a variety of ailments for thousands of years. Five thousand years ago the Chinese used ephedra as a medication to treat sweating, lung and bronchial constriction, water retention, coughing, shortness of breath, the common cold, and fevers. 

The ephedra alkaloids are all sympathomimetic amines, which means that a host of drug interactions are theoretically possible. In fact, only a handful of adverse drug interactions have been reported in the peer-reviewed literature. The most important of these involve the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Irreversible, nonselective MAOIs have been reported to adversely interact with indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines present in many cough and cold medicine. In controlled trials with individuals taking moclobemide, ephedrine s effects on pulse and blood pressure were potentiated, but only at higher doses than those currently provided in health supplements (137). Ephe-drine-MAOI interaction may, on occasion, be severe enough to mimic pheo-... 

Ma huang has traditionally been used to treat cough and respiratory infection. However, the latest studies suggest that there may be other reasons for treating respiratory infections with ephedra it contains a compound that, in the test tube at least, has antibiotic properties. It is a quinoline alkaloid (4-quinolone-2-carboxylic acid), isolated from the aerial part of Ephedra transitoria by column chromatography, and called transtorine. It inhibits growth of common bacteria, such as Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus (A1 -Khalil et al., 1998). Unfortunately, there have been no clinical trials. 

For cough with profuse phlegm due to external invasion by wind cold, add Herba Ephedrae Ma Huang) and Semen Pruni Armeniacae Xing Ren). 

BeMsi MG, Hele DJ (2003) Animal models of cough. In Chung KF, Widdicombe JG, Boushey HA (eds) Cough Causes, mechanisms and therapy. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 217-224 Bent S, Tiedt T, Odden M, Shlipak M (2003) The relative safety of ephedra compared with other herbal products. Ann Intern Med 138 468 71... 

The herb called Ma Huang has been used in China for some five thousand years in the treatment of a variety of afflictions. A Chinese dispensatory, written in A.D. 1596, states that the plant is useful as a circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, antipyretic, and sedative in cough, all of which has been confirmed by modern observations (1). Ephedras have been employed as remedies in many other parts of the world. 

The Chinese herbal drug Mao (Japanese name Chinese name is Ma-huang) is prepared from the above-ground parts of Ephedra sp. plants, such as Ephedra equisetina. Ephedra distachya, and Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae) which are native to China. Mao is used in Chinese traditional medicine prescriptions, and as a material for the preparation of ephedrine hydrochloride used for the treatment of cough. 

In Chinese traditional medicine, this crude drug has been used firom ancient times as a cough cure, and as an antipyretic and diaphoretic. On the other hand, the subterranean parts of Ephedra plants are used to stop sweating, as this medicine possesses a contradictory action to the above-ground parts of the same plant. 

Ephredras are the dried stems of Ephedra sinica Stapf., E. intermedia Schrenk et C.A. May., or E. equisetina Bge. In TCM, ephedra is the primary component of multi-herb formulas to treat asthma and bronchitis, cold and flu, cough and wheezing, fever, chills, lack of perspiration, headache, and nasal congestion. 

---