Joints ephedra

Ephedra has also been called Brigham tea, desert tea, herbal fen-phen, joint fir, Mexican tea. Mormon tea, natural ecstasy, popotillo, sea grape, squaw tea, teamster tea, and yellow horse. The active component, ephedrine, was isolated in the 19th century and was... 

Ephedra, and other medicinal plants have been identified at European neanderthal burial sites dating from 60,000 BCE (1). Thousands of years later, Pliny accurately described the medicinal uses of ephedra. But thousands of years before Pliny, traditional Chinese healers used ephedra extracts. Chinese texts from the 15th century recommended ephedra as an antipyretic and antitussive. In Russia, around the same time, extracts of ephedra were used to treat joint pain and though recent laboratory studies confirm that ephedra might be useful for that purpose (2), additional trials and studies have not been forthcoming. In the 1600s, Indians and Spaniards in the American Southwest used ephedra as a treatment for venereal disease (3). That idea might also have had some merit, as some studies show that ephedra contains compounds with antibiotic activity called transtorines (4). Whether the transtorines will prove to be clinically useful has not been determined. 

Herba Ephedrae Ma Huang), remove the joints, 6g Ramulus Cinnamomi Gui Zhi), 4g... 

For wind damp muscular bi and joint pain, add Semen Lachryma-jobi (Yi Yi Ren). This results in MaXing Yi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Armeniaca, Coix, Licorice Decoction). 

Pharmacology The actions of ephedra products are those of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which release norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve endings. In addition to nasal decongestion, the established clinical use of ephedrine is as a pressor agent Ephedra herbal products are commonly used for treatment of respiratory dysfunction (including bronchitis and asthma) and as mild CNS stimulants. In Chinese medicine, ephedra products are also used for relief of cold and flu symptoms, for diuresis, and for bone or Joint pain. 

Known as ma huang in Chinese medicine, this is a large genus of woody, jointed, desert shrubs. These shrubs appear to be leafless from a distance, but on close inspection possess scale-like leaf structures at the nodes. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and related alkaloids are the active principles. Ephedra is marketed for many logical purposes, e.g. as decon-... 

Ephedra alkaloids. Alkaloids from the shrubby joint fir [Ephedra, Ephedraceae) occurring in warm-temperate regions of the earth. The main alkaloid is ephedrine. Many of the constituents of Ephedra (Ma-Huang drug in Chinese traditional medicine) are hypotensive. 

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