Ephedra

Ephedra sinensis (Ma Huang, Chinese Ephedra)

Botanical information
An evergreen shrub, it grows to a height of 1m with a sperad of up to3m; the stem is slender, erect, grooved, green and branching; the leaves are smalll, scale-like, articulate, and sheathing at each joint; a dioecious plant, the male flowers have prominent, yellow pollen sacks; the cones are succulent and contain two carpels, with a single seed in each.
A native of_ China and the Himalayas, it prefers stony slopes and gravel terraces in drier areas of the Himalayas, in an open, sunny position, and is drought and frost resistant. It is very similar to Ephedra gerardiana in it's botany and in it's pharmacology and uses.
Propagation is by seed.

Traditional uses
Ephedra sinensis is one of the ephedrine containing ephedras and has long been used in chinese and middle-eastern medicine. It was treasured for treating allergy, asthma, cold, cough, diarrhea, fevers, hayfever, headache, malaria, and rheumatism. Infusions prevented low blood pressure in flu and pneumonia. Ephedrine was popular in western medicine until a few years ago, when authorities realised that it was illegally being used to manufacture amphetamines. It's use was widespread as a 'quick-fix' for colds and flu, as a stay-alert for truck drivers and shift workers, and in excessive amounts as a stimulant in recreational drug use. The use of pseudoephedrine in cold remedies is regarded as safer, as it has a lesser effect on bloodpressure, the main health concern with ephedrine consumption. The total crude alkaloid extract of ephedra (containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) has been shown to be more effective in treating cold and flu symptoms than the equivalent combination of synthetic ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine is a "TGA - Schedule 9" (same as heroin!!!) drug in Australia, but a herb dealer charged with distributing Ephedra herb on the basis of its ephedrine content was aquitted by the magistrate, indicating that the sale of Ephedra herb is legal in NSW. It is however a customs prohibited import. Many countries are scheduling ephedrine and ephedra products, but many find their new laws challenged, ending in a confusing legal mess. Make sure you have up to date information on your local legislation before ordering any ephedra products.

Pharmacology
Ephedra gerardiana is a high yielding source of Ephedrine, which is extracted fom the green branches with a high total alkaloid content between 0.5% and 1.0%. Total alkaloids are made up of about half ephedrine and the rest pseudoephedrine, N-methylephedrine, norephedrine and related compounds. Ephedrine acts like adrenaline, but is orally active. Ephedra herb varies greatly in quality as the drying process is difficult and can eliminate almost all of the ephedrine from the final product before it reaches market. The ephedrine in ephedra is destroyed by heat, and drying is usually done at ambient temperature, in the dark and at low humidity, and may take several weeks. Alkaloid levels in the plant also vary greatly and are the lowest after rain.