Ephedra sinica, a Chinese species of ephedra (ma huang), contains the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

What plant contains the most ephedrine?

The ephedra bush grows in the desert regions of Asia, North America, and other parts of the world. Not all ephedra plants contain ephedrine alkaloids. It is the alkaloid content of the plant that gives it a medicinal effect. The Asian ephedra plant typically has the highest concentration of ephedrine alkaloids.

What types of plants contain ephedrine?

Common names that have been used for the various plants that contain ephedrine alkaloids include sea grape, yellow horse, joint fir, popotillo, and country mallow.

Does Ephedra viridis contain ephedrine?

Ephedra californica and Ephedra viridis contain pseudoephedrine, but no ephedrine (Adams Jr. ... Ephedra products contain Ephedra haulm or extracts of Ephedra haulm and their ephedra alkaloid content differs widely. They contain 0-26 mg of total alkaloids per dose.

How do I know if I have ephedra Nevadensis?

shrub with yellowish-gray, erect-spreading branches. Small, paired leaves split and fall off early leaving a leafless, broom-like shrub. Tiny, individual, yellow to light-brown flowers cluster together to form a cone-like inflorescence.

Ephedra and Ephedrine

26 related questions found

What is Brigham tea herb?

Mormon tea is made from a plant, Ephedra nevadensis. The dried branches are boiled in water to make the tea. People use it as a beverage and as a medicine. Be careful not to confuse Mormon tea (Ephedra nevadensis) with ephedra (Ephedra sinica and other ephedra species).

What is Mo Huang tea?

Ma-huang is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf and other Ephedra species, used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis. It contains 0.5–2.5% by weight of total alkaloids, of which ephedrine accounts for 30 to 90%.

How do you make Ephedra Sinica tea?

dried ephedra (stems), 8 ounces boiling water Pour water over the tea and allow to steep for 5- 10 minutes. Many find the taste unpleasant. Sweetening with honey or sugar is an option. Some recipes recommend adding milk to moderate the taste.

Why is it called Mormon tea?

The English name, Mormon Tea, caught on when Mormon settlers were making their way West. They found that they could brew a tasty tea from the stems, and it became a popular thirst quencher when crossing the desert. Mormon Tea is a common desert plant in our area.

What is another name for Mormon tea?

Other Name(s): Brigham Tea, Desert Tea, Ephedra nevadensis, Éphédra du Nevada, Ephedra viridis, Gray Ephedra, Green Ephedra, Nevada Ephedra, Popotillo, Squaw Tea, Té Mormón, Teamster's Tea, Thé des Mormons, Thé Mormon.

Can I grow Ephedra?

HOW CAN YOU GROW EPHEDRA? Ephedra can be grown and processed at home using our high-quality Ma Huang seeds. Growing Ephedra is not particularly difficult or time-consuming. It is recommended to plant Ephedra in the spring, since it prefers warmth, but it can also tolerate cold and frost.

What plants contain stimulants?

Chapter 4 (Stimulant Plants) is dedicated to plants with purinergic (coffee, tea, cocoa, guarana, maté, kola), cholinergic (tobacco, areca, lobelia) and monoaminergic stimulant effects (ephedra, coca, khat).

Are Ephedra seeds legal?

ANSWER: Ephedra sinica, the herb also known as Ma Huang, is the one that was outlawed by the FDA and can no longer be legally sold as a dietary supplement. The major reason is the potential danger from the ephedra alkaloids, which are stimulant compounds that can represent an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.

Where is ephedrine found?

Ephedrine is obtained from the plant Ephedra sinica and other members of the genus Ephedra, from which the name of the substance is derived. Raw materials for the manufacture of ephedrine and traditional Chinese medicines are produced in China on a large scale.

What are natural stimulants?

Natural stimulants are substances derived from plants, roots or other natural sources that stimulate central nervous system activity. Like synthetic stimulants, natural stimulants can enhance focus and calmness, boost learning, stabilize mood and assist with impulse control.

Which kind of root system is seen in Ephedra?

A prominent underground tap root system with many adventitious roots is present in Ephedra.

What is in Navajo tea?

Called greenthread (Thelesperma), it is used to make Navajo "tea." Unlike the evergreen Camelia sinensis used in caffeinated black and green teas, greenthread is brewed from at least one species of Thelesperma.

What ephedra does to the body?

Ephedra can cause a quickened heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. Side effects include heart palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. More than 800 dangerous reactions have been reported with use of the herb. These include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and sudden deaths.

What plant does ephedra come from?

Ephedra is a Chinese shrub which has been used in China for medicinal purposes for several thousand years. The pure alkaloid ephedrine was first isolated and characterised by Nagai in 1885. It was then forgotten until it was rediscovered by Chen and Schmidt in the early 1920s.

How do you grow ma huang?

Growing Instructions: Full sun, low water. Ma huang does best in well-draining soil, and seeds may be started in a light sand soil in early spring. Lightly cover the seeds with soil and keep damp until germination, watering significantly less once sprouted – only once the soil begins to completely dry.

Can you buy Bronkaid over-the-counter?

Bronkaid is not available over-the-counter (OTC) in the traditional sense; while it does not require a prescription in most states, Bronkaid must be purchased directly from the pharmacy counter. The medication is sold as a dual-action capsule with two components: ephedrine sulfate and guaifenesin.

Is Ma Huang tea safe?

Safety / Precautions

Ma Huang or herbal supplements containing ephedrine should not be used in small children, pregnancy or lactation. Avoid in persons with high blood pressure or that have any form of heart, kidney or liver disease. Do not ingest along with caffeine or caffeine containing herbs, such as Guaraná.

What is the supplement ephedrine?

It is a natural source of the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Some dietary supplement products used for weight loss and to enhance athletic performance contain these alkaloids. Synthetic ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are found in over-the-counter decongestants and cold medicines and are used to treat asthma.

How much ephedrine is in ephedra?

Of the six ephedrine-type ingredients found in ephedra (at concentrations of 0.02-3.4%), the most common are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are the sources of its stimulant and thermogenic effects.

What is Nevada ephedra used for?

Nevada ephedra was used for food and medicine by indigenous people and for tea by Mormons. Currently, its biggest use is as forage for sheep and cattle (it is not as good for horses), and for habitat restoration. It is sometimes grown for ornamental purposes.