Ephedra
This herb grows in almost all tropical and subtropical areas. For medicinal purposes the whole plant is used. It has an action similar to that of adrenaline.
The scientific name of this herb is Ephedra distachya.
Ephedra belongs to the family of plants Ephedraceae.
Ephedra is a shrub with erect branches up to 1.5 m., ridged longitudinally organized in nodes and internodes.
It grows on lime-rich soils, dry and very sunny.
The leaves of this herb are small, scaly membranous and without chlorophyll, located at the nodes.
Flowers are unisexual Ephedra bit showy.
This plant has protected seminal primordial after fertilization scales that become fleshy and acquire a red color simulating a whole berry.
Sun-loving bushes and evergreen forest fringes planifolia inland of the Mediterranean Region.
I enter the active ingredients of ephedra are: protoalcaloicles, flavonoids, proantocianidoles. The branches containing macrocyclic oxazolidone and alkaloids.
Medicinal properties: Sympathomimetics, expectorant, bronchodilator, vasoconstrictor, cardiotonic, antihistamine (allergy), central nervous system stimulant.
This herb is used in cases of: asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, dyspnea, emphysema, persistent cough. Allergies: hay fever, vernal conjunctivitis, urticaria. Migraine. Heart block.
Distachya Ephedra can produce side effects such as pupil dilation, vomiting, headache, sweating, abdominal pain, tachycardia and hypertension.
Ephedrine (Ephedra compound) can cause anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and more rarely, toxic psychosis, is considered a natural amphetamine, for its intense stimulant-euphoric effect.
Recipes from this medicinal plant:
Infusion infusing one teaspoon per cup of ephedra. Drink two cups a day.
Infusion: 2% infuse 10 minutes, drinking two or three cups a day after meals to prevent allergic reactions.
Tags: bronchitis, rhinitis, vasoconstrictor
