Ephedra sinica
Ephedra sinica
Ephedra sinica (pronunciation: eh-FED-ruh sih-NI-kuh), also known as Ma Huang or Chinese ephedra, is a plant species native to the steppe and desert regions of China and Mongolia. It belongs to the Ephedraceae family and the Ephedra genus.
Etymology
The genus name Ephedra is derived from the Ancient Greek word ephédra, meaning "sitting upon", in reference to the plant's habit of growing on top of rocks. The species name sinica is Latin for "from China", indicating the plant's origin.
Description
Ephedra sinica is a perennial plant that grows up to 0.4 meters high. It has slender, yellow-green branches with tiny, scale-like leaves. The plant produces small, yellow cones and is well-adapted to arid conditions.
Medical Uses
Ephedra sinica has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 5,000 years. It is known for its stimulant and thermogenic effects, primarily due to the presence of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, alkaloids that can affect the sympathetic nervous system. These compounds are used in modern medicine to treat conditions such as asthma, nasal congestion, and low blood pressure.
Safety and Side Effects
While Ephedra sinica has medicinal benefits, it can also cause serious side effects, especially when consumed in high doses or combined with other stimulants. Potential side effects include insomnia, nervousness, tachycardia, and hypertension. In some cases, it can lead to severe health problems such as stroke or heart attack.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ephedra sinica
- Wikipedia's article - Ephedra sinica
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski