The efficacy and effects of ephedra

Ephedra is the dried herbaceous stem of the plant Ephedra, the stinking road herb of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, warm, pungent, slightly bitter, with a variety of effects such as dispersing cold by sweating, diuresis and decongesting, so what are the other effects of Ephedra?

Dispersing cold by sweating

Ephedra alkaloids do not induce sweating. Ephedra soup has an antipyretic effect on fever in rats, and can cause sweating by sweat gland secretion. It confirms the ancient observation that Ephedra alone does not induce sweating, and that it is only when used together with Cinnamomum cassiae that sweating is induced. Ma Heng Shi Gan Tang has an antipyretic effect on fever in rabbits. Experiments have demonstrated that for rabbits with artificial fever caused by sterilized cow's milk, Ephedra volatile oil emulsion has an antipyretic effect. However, ephedra volatile oil has a strong irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the skin.

Antibacterial and antiviral

Ephedra volatile oil has an inhibitory effect on influenza virus (sub-state A AR8), and the average survival period was significantly increased and the average lung damage was significantly reduced in the experiments with volatile oil for the treatment of influenza in rats, which has certain therapeutic efficacy. Aqueous decoction and ephedra volatile oil have different degrees of antibacterial effects on a variety of bacteria, and have inhibitory effects on Asian influenza A virus, and therapeutic effects on mice infected with influenza A virus strain PR8.

Anti-allergic

The aqueous extract of Ephedra has anti-allergic effects, and Ephedra has inhibited the release of allergenic substances. Ephedra sinensis can inhibit mast cell degranulation; inhibit the release of histamine from the intestinal tube of sensitized guinea pigs and ease the movement of the intestinal tube. Thus, the clinical use of Ma Heng Shi Gan Tang is effective in the treatment of allergic and allergic reactive diseases.

Excitation of nerves

Ephedrine has excitatory effects on the brain, midbrain and delayed brain, respiratory and circulatory centers. After internal administration of ephedra preparations, the manifestations are as follows: ① warmth of the whole body, accelerated heartbeat, peripheral vasoconstriction, and increased blood pressure. ② Increased secretion of sweat glands and salivary glands. ③ Relieve bronchial and gastrointestinal spasm. ④It has the effect of promoting the tension and spasm of the internal bladder sphincter.

Cardiac stimulant

Ephedrine contained in ephedra is a strong cardiac agent, its medicinal effects and epinephrine is similar, can promote myocardial contraction, cardiac output rate increases, heart rate increases, when used too much or even the phenomenon of heart rate disorders.

Regulation of blood pressure

Ephedrine is a potent antihypertensive component that can raise both diastolic and systolic blood pressure in users, but ephedrine and volatile oils exhibit hypotensive effects and also dilate blood vessels, so many drugs are made with ephedrine added to achieve the effect of lowering blood pressure.

Regulation of blood vessels

Ephedrine can make the heart, brain and muscle blood vessels dilate and blood flow increase, while making the lungs, kidneys, spleen and other internal organs and skin, mucous membrane vasoconstriction and blood flow decrease; and can make the pulmonary artery systolic and diastolic blood pressure increase at the same time. Therefore, ephedra is not good for asthmatic patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Diuretic

Ephedra contains a large amount of ephedrine, ephedrine has a strong diuretic and decongestant effect on the consumption of water, salt water, urea water after the animals have shown a strong diuretic effect, but the consumption of alcohol is the opposite of the inhibition of urination, therefore, the diuretic effect of ephedra is limited to the water classification, alcohol and other organic classification is shown to inhibit urination.

Relaxation of smooth muscle

Ephedra in a variety of alkaloids have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle, so ephedra can treat the following diseases. 1. Treatment of asthma: relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle, can dilate the bronchial tubes. 2. Relieve dysmenorrhea: the alkaloids in ephedra can always human smooth muscle of the uterus, can relieve dysmenorrhea. 3. Treatment of children's enuresis: strengthen the bladder sphincter ephedra can make the bladder deltoid and sphincter muscle tension increased, the number of urination decreased, and thus can treat children's enuresis.

Anti-renal failure

Ephedra in infusion can make the creatinine and urea nitrogen in the blood of rats with renal failure decrease and blood calcium increase. It is due to the inhibition of creatinine and oxygen free radical production, thus significantly inhibiting the formation of methylguanidine, thus improving kidney function. Pseudoephedrine has a diuretic effect on dogs.