Ephedra Decoction is a commonly used diaphoretic and antipyretic medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. It is mainly composed of ephedra, cinnamon twig, apricot kernel, licorice, and other Chinese herbs. It has good detoxifying effects in the treatment of wind-cold colds. Let's learn more about Ephedra Decoction below!
Composition of Ephedra Decoction
Ephedra Decoction is a Chinese medicine preparation composed of ephedra, cinnamon twig, apricot kernel, and licorice. It has the effects of dispersing exterior and inducing sweating, and harmonizing the lung and relieving asthma.
Ephedra is warm and pungent, belonging to the lung and bladder meridians. It is good at opening the pores and inducing sweating, dispelling wind-cold on the surface, and harmonizing the lung and relieving asthma. Therefore, it is used as the main herb in this formula.
Cinnamon twig can relax the muscles and disperse the exterior, warm and unblock the meridians. It not only assists ephedra in dispelling the exterior and enhancing the sweating effect, but also promotes the circulation of Ying and nourishes the Yin, alleviating pain. The combination of these two herbs is a commonly used combination for dispersing exterior and inducing sweating.
Apricot kernel can lower and benefit lung qi. When combined with ephedra, one herb induces sweating while the other lowers the lung qi, thus enhancing the effect of harmonizing the lung and relieving asthma. It is a commonly used combination for harmonizing and lowering lung qi, serving as an auxiliary herb.
Roasted licorice can not only harmonize the effects of ephedra and apricot kernel, but also moderate the strong combination of ephedra and cinnamon twig, preventing excessive sweating and damage to the righteous qi. It serves as a helper herb in this formula.
The combination of these four herbs can dispel exterior cold, promote the circulation of Ying and Wei, and harmonize the lung qi, thus treating various symptoms.
Effects of Ephedra Decoction
Ephedra Decoction is mainly used to treat the symptoms of wind-cold exterior syndrome, including chills, fever, headache, absence of sweating but wheezing, thin white tongue coating, tight and floating pulse, and so on.
It can be used to treat respiratory infections such as influenza, acute bronchitis, and bronchial asthma caused by wind-cold exterior syndrome.
It should be avoided when there is excessive sweating or physical weakness to prevent exacerbation of symptoms or the occurrence of collapse.
Precautions
This formula is a strong diaphoretic, and once sweating occurs after taking the medicine, it should not be taken again. It should be avoided in cases of spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, wind-heat exterior syndrome, and exterior deficiency caused by physical weakness.
Ephedra Decoction has a strong diaphoretic effect and should not be used in cases of colds with excessive sweating, febrile colds, colds with weak constitution, postpartum women, and patients with bleeding disorders. Misuse may lead to collapse due to excessive sweating.
After taking Ephedra Decoction and sweating, various clinical symptoms will be relieved. It is not necessary to continue taking Ephedra Decoction. If cold symptoms have not completely resolved, Cinnamon Twig Decoction can be used instead.
