Ma huang is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an herbal treatment for asthma, hay fever, nose and lung congestion, chest tightness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and for patients with fever and lack of perspiration (anhidrosis).
Ephedra is used as a performance booster; to increase the blood circulation to the muscles for energy and endurance from an increase of oxygen and nutrient supply.
The effects of ephedra (ma huang) are modified by the method of preparation; grinding the herb is the most common method, however boiling the herb for 2 hours produces the greatest level of ephedrine alkaloids
The herb is used in herbal weight loss products for its acute thermogenic and lipolytic effects on basal metabolism.
It has been proven effective in its ability to stimulate thermogenesis.
The use of pseudoephedrine is common in decongestants and herbal cold remedies for its vasoconstrictive effect.
Besides ephedrine, ephedra contains; pseudoephedrine (PE), N-methylephedrine (NME), N-methylpseudoephedrine (MPE), norephedrine (NE), and norpseudoephedrine (NPE) alkaloids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, tannins, and volatile oils.
Ma huang produces a tightening effect on blood vessels near the surface of the skin and enlarges the small airways in the lungs (the bronchioles).
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