Ephedra Vulgaris

August 20th, 2008

Botanical Name : EPHEDRA VULGARIS
Family Name : EPHEDRACEAE/N.O. Gnetaceae
Common Name : EPHEDRA, EVULGARIS, SOMLATHA
Part Used : DRIED BRANCH
Habitat : Drier regions of temperate zone and alpine Himalayas at altitude of 2700m to 3600m.It grows in southern Europe and parts of western and central Asia. Its local names include somlatha.

Description:Ephedra distachya (syn. E. vulgaris) is a shrub in the family Ephedraceae, about 25 cm to 50 cm high.It is found on sandy seashores and in temperate climates of both hemispheres. The plant has stamens and pistils on separate flowers–staminate flowers in catkins and a membraneous perianth, pistillate flowers terminal on axillary stalks, within a two-leaved involucre. Fruit has two carpels with a single seed in each and is a succulent cone, branches slender and erect, small leaves, scale-like, articulated and joined at the base into a sheath.

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Constituents: Ephedrine is salt of an alkaloid and is in shining white crystals very soluble in water.

Medicinal Action and Uses:It is Stomachic, Alterative and Diuretic. Alkaloid called “Ephedrine” which helps in controlling Asthma. It is widely used for acute muscular and Bronchial Asthma. It is also used as a headache reliever.

A sympathetic nerve stimulant resembling adrenaline, its effect on the unstriped muscular fibres is remarkable. It acts promptly in relieving swellings of the mucous membrane. It has valuable antispasmodic properties, acts on the air passages and is of benefit in asthma and hay fever; it is also employed for rheumatism; a 5 to 10 per cent solution has mydriatic properties, prophylactically used for low blood pressure in influenza, pneumonia, etc. Used in tablet form for oral or hypodermic administration and in ampuls for hypodermic, intramuscular and intravenous use. It can advantageously be used in solution with liquid paraffin, either alone or in conjunction with methol camphor and oil of thyme. Dose, 1/2 to 1 grain.

It is used to relieve acute muscular and rheumatic pains (when it is called teamsters’ tea), as a stimulant, and in the cardio tonics in Ayurveda. It is sometimes identified with the legendary drug soma, as described in the Avesta and the Rig Veda, the respective ancient sacred texts of the Zoroastrian and Hindu faiths.

Ephedrine, the salt of an alkaloid, is obtained from its dried branches and is used as a stimulant, often to control asthma. It was isolated from the plant by Nagayoshi Nagai in 1885. All parts of the plant contain up to 3% ephedrine

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra_distachya

http://www.ayurveda-herbal-remedy.com/indian-herbs/ephedra-vulgaris.html

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/ephedr11.html