Ephedra

Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
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Ephedra

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs. Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Ephedra Flowering Plant

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion. But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened . Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions. Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE? Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace? WHY?? There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance: The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Ephedra

The medicinal herb Ephedra as an alternative herbal remedy for asthma, wheezing, nasal congestion - Ephedra is an evergreen shrub-like plant native to Central Asia and Mongolia. The principal active ingredient, ephedrine, is a compound that can powerfully stimulate the nervous system and heart.Common Names--ephedra, Chinese ephedra, ma huang

Latin Name--Ephedra sinica Picture of Ephedra

What Ephedra Is Used For

• Ephedra has been used for more than 5,000 years in China and India to treat conditions such as colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, wheezing, and nasal congestion.
• It has also been an ingredient in many dietary supplements used for weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance.

How Ephedra Is Used

The dried stems and leaves of the plant are used to create capsules, tablets, extracts, tinctures, and teas.

What the Science Says about Ephedra

• An NCCAM-funded study that analyzed phone calls to poison control centers found a higher rate of side effects from ephedra, compared with other herbal products.
• Other studies and systematic reviews have found an increased risk of heart, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal problems, as well as high blood pressure and stroke, with ephedra use.
• According to the FDA, there is little evidence of ephedra's effectiveness, except for short-term weight loss. However, the increased risk of heart problems and stroke outweighs any benefits.
• In recent years, the safety of ephedra-containing dietary supplements has been questioned by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the medical community as a result of reports of serious side effects and ephedra-related deaths. In response to accumulating evidence of adverse effects and deaths related to ephedra, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-containing supplements on April 12, 2004. A suit by an ephedra manufacturer was upheld by a Federal District Court judge in Utah on April 14, 2005. The FDA appealed this ruling, and on August 17, 2006 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the FDA's ban of ephedra. The sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements is currently illegal in the United States because of the high risk of ephedra-related adverse events. >>this article copied verbatim from wikipedia>>

Ephedra biochemistry

The alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the active constituents of the plant. Pseudoephedrine is used in over-the-counter decongestants. Derivatives of ephedrine are used to treat low blood pressure, but alternatives with reduced cardiovascular risk have replaced it for treating asthma. Ephedrine is also considered a performance-enhancing drug and is prohibited in most competitive sports. Some species in the Ephedra genus have no alkaloid content and are therefore essentially inert; however, the most commonly used species, E. sinica, has a total alkaloid content of 1–3% by dry weight. Ephedrine constitutes 40–90% of the alkaloid content, with the remainder consisting of pseudoephedrine and the demethylated forms of each compound. >> This article copied verbatim from wikipedia >>

Side Effects and Cautions about Ephedra

In 2004, the FDA banned the U.S. sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra. The FDA found that these supplements had an unreasonable risk of injury or illness--particularly cardiovascular complications--and a risk of death. The ban does not apply to traditional Chinese herbal remedies or to products like herbal teas regulated as conventional foods.

• Between 1995 and 1997, the FDA received more than 900 reports of possible ephedra toxicity. Serious adverse events such as stroke, heart attack, and sudden death were reported in 37 cases.
• Taking ephedra can also result in nausea, anxiety, headache, psychosis, kidney stones, tremors, dry mouth, irregular heart rhythms, heart damage, high blood pressure, restlessness, sleep problems, irritation of the stomach, and increased urination.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children should avoid taking ephedra. Using ephedra may worsen many health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, sleep disorders, and diabetes.
• Ephedra use may lead to serious health problems when used with other dietary supplements or medicines.
• Combining ephedra with caffeine increases the risk of potentially serious side effects.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

News About Ephedra

Benefits and side-effects of herbal medicines

• Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Benefits-and-side-effects-of-herbal-medicines/articleshow/49151051.cms

By Altaf Patel (Mumbai Mirror)

I don't belittle medicines that I don't have the knowledge of, and I am always interested in patients who find relief from an alternative branch of medicine. One of the reasons being, I attempt to understand how a particular medication has helped.

However, the one thing that I'm skeptical about, and which I dissuade my patients from following, is metal therapy. I have seen people suffering from kidney failures, and a few even expiring, so that's one `therapy' that I wouldn't advise anyone to follow.

Several of my patients often ask me about the benefits/side-effects of herbal medicines. Let me tell you, herbal treatment is not alien to doctors practicing allopathy. I'll give you an example.

There is a medication called Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentia, or the Indian snakeroot). It is a species of a flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, and the extracts of this plant has a compound called reserpine, which is used in anti-hypertensive medications. It is said that Mahatma Gandhi used reserpine as a tranquiliser.

I have in the past used this compound to treat patients (it has now been replaced by better medications). The point I'm trying to make is, such compounds cannot be simply called herbal medication. Rather, they should be termed `integrative medicine', the interface between herbs and allopathy.

Simply put, herbal medicines are compounds extracted from herbs. They have been in existence since ancient times. It is worth noting that 25% of the medical molecules available in the US have their origins in herbs, and at least 7,000 medical compounds have their origins in plants. Modern molecules such as quinine, aspirin and digitalis -the latter is derived from foxgloves and used to treat heart failure -come from herbal parenthood.

The extracts of several herbs are put into capsules and claimed that the tablets will act on the body the same way as the natural substance. This may not be true.

Among the herbs available in tablet form, and prescribed fairly often, is the St John's-wort, which is hypericum perforatum, a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae, a medicinal herb with antidepressant activity, and potent anti-inflammatory properties. Till a few years ago, the general perception was that the medication being herbal, it was wellsuited to treat such conditions in pregnant women, where pharmacological molecules may be contraindicated because of their effects on the foetus. This, however, does not appear to be correct.

There have been several concerns about using St John's-wort, and it appears that it does interfere with some of the allopathic medications.

Another interesting herb which I have come across is Ma huang, which is known in English as ephedra. It is a medicinal preparation from the plant Ephedra sinica, and is widely used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug, and also for weight loss. In recent years, ephedra-containing supplements have been found to be unsafe, following which the US Food and Drug Administration banned it.

Then there is the hugely popular Malabar tamarind, or GARCINIA CAMBOGIA, a weight loss supplement that people from across the country vouch for. It is also said to stabilise blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

The Journal of Obesity in 2011 reviewed it, and said that people who used it did lose about 2lbs (about 0.9 kg) more compared to those who didn't. In 2009, the FDA had cautioned the doctors against its usage because of liver problems, but it couldn't be established that the medication caused such ailments.

A study in food and chemical toxicology stated that high doses of the herb can cause testicular atrophy. Anecdotal experiences do suggest it to be useful in weight loss but medical literature is sparse on the subject, and I will not comment on it.

People willing to spend a lot of money on the `miracle pill' for weight loss, but they don't want to exercise or control their diet. As a result, the search for such a pill continues. The fact that it's herbal, therefore it's safe, is far off the truth.

One must remember that many medicinal molecules are derived from herbs, and when they become pharmacological, they are subject to extensive scrutiny by various organisations. Herbal medicines come under the umbrella of nutraceuticals, and there is an impression that all of them are safe for consumption, which may not be true. One must remember that the philosopher Socrates was put to death by making him drink a liquid derived from herbs.

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Ephedra Shrubs have a Long Medicinal History

• Source:http://mvprogress.com/2013/04/03/ephedra-shrubs-have-a-long-medicinal-history/

By BRUCE LUND

This spring is turning out to be a good wildflower season! Walk in the desert in this first week of April and you’ll find bright yellow flowers of the Desert Marigold, Bead-Pod Mustard, Gold-Poppy, and tall Yellow Cups (aka, Sundrops); white Prickly Poppies with their golden centers, tiny Desert Stars just an inch high and Desert Chicories; stands of purple Phacelias flourishing on gravel banks and the first shocking pink flowers of the Beavertail cactus popping up across the desert.

While the big showy flowers get all the photographs, many other intriguing plants get overlooked because they are wind-pollinated with diminutive flowers. Instead of putting their energy into producing a few big showy flowers to attract pollinating insects, these plants focus their energy into producing huge numbers of tiny flowers stripped down to the bare male and female parts needed for pollination. Our half dozen shrubby Ephedras are a prime example of this wind-pollination lifestyle, and it gets better because they carry flower specialization one step further: for even more energy efficiency, each plant produces only male or female flowers.

At the height of pollen production, the huge numbers of male flowers color their Ephedra shrubs a bright yellow, and then fade to a rusty color as the pollen matures and are carried off by the wind. But you really should take a close look and see how the individual male flowers are compacted into clusters that look like miniature pine cones, and how, as each individual flower cone matures, they send out stalked stamens with swollen tips covered with tiny yellow pollen grains that give each cone a fuzzy look.

In contrast, female flowers look more like traditional flowers with petals (although these are actually a cluster of scales that happen to look like petals). In the center of each flower are one to four unfertilized seeds with tiny stigmas sticking up at the top of each seed (this can be hard to see) which are the landing sites upon which the male pollen has to land. Since the chance of a microscopic pollen grain hitting a tiny stigma is infinitesimal, male flowers produce huge amounts of pollen to achieve pollination. It’s sort of like buying a million tickets to win a lottery vastly improves – but does not guarantee – your chances of winning.

Ephedra’s intense wind pollination effort passes quickly with the male flowers drying up and dropping away in a week or two.

It’s different with the female flower where the ‘petals’ dry and drop away as well, but exposing the mature seeds along the stems. Besides being potential future plants, these are also nutritious packages of energy and eagerly sought by kangaroo rats, ground squirrels, birds, and even people. Of course, many seeds get dropped in transport from plants to dens, being a way of spreading new plants across the landscape.

When a plant has a long list of common names, it indicates a long history of human use for food, medicine, and/or structural uses, and Ephedra has a LOT of names including: Mormon Tea (used as an acceptable substitute for tea and coffee by pioneering Mormons), Cowboy Tea, Brigham Tea (Brigham Young supposedly liked this tea), Ma Huang (the Ephedra species with by far the strongest concentration of Ephedrine comes from China and has been used there for thousands of years), Whorehouse Tea (served in certain Nevada establishments because it was believed to be a treatment for venereal diseases), Squaw or Indian Tea (used by Native Americans), Joint-fir (from the structure of the stems that resemble – with a lot of imagination – the leaves of fir trees), and many more.

So why do Ephedras have such a long history of human use? However it happened, records dating back 5,000 years show that early peoples in China discovered that drinking teas made from Ephedra gave an energy boost and had other medicinal effects. Today we know the 40 or so species of Ephedra found in arid areas around the Earth produce a chemical we call ephedrine, and that it is a nerve stimulant (similar to the effect of caffeine in coffee or tea) plus diuretic and decongestant qualities. It makes sense that the Chinese were the first to discover this as they have the one species that has, by far, the highest concentration of ephedrine and other chemicals. So while other species around the world have some level of active ingredients, only the Chinese species packs a wallop while our species basically gives a tea some flavoring and a tiny energy boost at best.

But don’t take it from me – if you’re curious to learn more about the medicinal facts and myths about ephedra, take a look on-line where you will find thousands of sites.

In the meantime, get out quickly if you want to see Ephedra in flower as it will pass in a couple of weeks.

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Ephedra: A beneficial and controversial herb

• Source:http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/08/07/ephedra-beneficial-and-controversial-herb.html

By Chris Kilham

One of the great medicines of all time, ephedra (Ephedra sinica) has been in use for as long as 5,000 years. Known as Ma Huang in traditional Chinese Medicine, ephedra is native to Central Asia. The evergreen shrub has been used in traditional medicine to alleviate colds, bronchial and sinus congestion, flu, headaches and asthma.

The plant naturally contains two alkaloids known as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, as well as smaller amounts of related alkaloids. Pseudoephedrine is the sole active ingredient in the popular decongestant drugs Sudafed and Actifed. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are active compounds in over 700 over-the-counter drugs sold in the United States today. Ephedra the plant is listed in the pharmacopeias of several countries, and its compounds are listed drugs in the official compendia of many nations.

Ephedra viridis, a species found in the American southwest, is known as Mormon tea, Brigham’s tea, Squaw tea, Whorehouse tea and Cowboy tea. This species also contains the alkaloids ephedra, pseudoephedrine and related compounds, though in lower concentration than the Asian species. Used traditionally by Paiute, Kawaiisu and other native tribal groups, the plant received its name ‘Mormon tea’ due to its use as a stimulant beverage by people of the Mormon faith. Mormons avoid caffeine in all forms but nonetheless embrace the stimulating properties of ephedra. Native people historically used the tea to treat colds, fever, headaches, and bowel and stomach disorders. Mormons learned the use of this plant from people of southwestern regional tribes. The name ‘Whorehouse tea’ refers to the drinking of the tea in the former well-known brothel Katie’s Place in Elko, Nevada during the gold rush of the 1900s.

Used in quantities of 8 milligrams of total alkaloids or less, ephedra is a highly beneficial decongestant and is reliable for relieving congestion due to seasonal allergies. Its popularity is justified by its rapid effectiveness. During a cold, ephedra-based preparations can quickly open up blocked breathing passageways.

When used in greater concentrations, ephedra can cause problems – such as a rapid heart rate. Ephedra and extracts of the plant became popular as recreational stimulants and sports-enhancing agents in the late 1980s, and additionally as thermogenic diet aids in the 1990s. The use of ephedra for calorie-burning and appetite-suppressing diet purposes spawned a lucrative supplement industry with sales in the $100 million per year.

Employed sometimes in very large amounts, use of the herb led to numerous reported cases of adverse cardiovascular and nervous system problems – and even deaths. This overuse of ephedra for non-traditional purposes affirmed the age-old adage that the difference between a medicine and a poison is the dose.

In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements in order to stem the tide of adverse reactions. This action was hotly disputed by companies in the dietary supplement industry, for whom ephedra supplements had been immensely profitable best-sellers. In 2005 the ban was briefly overturned by a Utah District court judge, but in 2006 it was reinstated by the 10th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals. This put an end to the wrangling over ephedra’s legal status.

The ban on the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra remains in effect today. Additionally, ephedra alkaloids are banned by the USADA, the hyper-vigilant U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Detection of ephedra derivatives will disqualify competitive athletes in many fields of sports.

Though ephedra has been embattled due to its wholly improper use in large quantities, its moderate use remains highly popular and very safe. In the U.S., billions of dollars-worth of ephedra-based remedies sell in drug stores, and there is no indication that this will be curtailed. Effective and time-tested, ephedra remains one of nature’s highly valuable medicines.

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Pen In Hand: Ephedra, the first tea of Tehachapi

• Source:http://www.tehachapinews.com/lifestyle/2015/06/27/ephedra-the-first-tea-of-tehachapi.html

By Jon Hammond (Columinst)

A small dark green shrub flourishes in the Tehachapi Mountains, growing among California junipers, yuccas, and other drought-tolerant plants in drier locations. Its genus name — Ephedra — became associated in more recent years with cold medication and diet pills, but Tehachapi Indian people have used it to make tea for many hundreds of years.

This is a plant with a hundred different names: Indian tea, Mormon tea, sheepherders tea, Spanish tea, cowboy tea and many others. The local Nüwa (Kawaiisu) people call it “Tu-tu-PIV-eh” while botanists refer to the most common species in this area as Ephedra viridis or “Green Ephedra.”

This handsome little shrub is widespread in Sand Canyon, Old West Ranch, the back road to Keene and other places. Once you know what it looks like, it’s easy to spot – it has a distinctive dark olive green color and reed-like segmented stems that almost look like green pine needles. I even see it from Highway 58 every time I drive to Bakersfield — there's a place a few miles west of Tehachapi, which I call "the Narrows" because at that point the canyon walls are tall and steep and very close to the freeway, where Ephedra grows along the slope right above the roadway.

With all of Ephedra’s assorted names, it is obvious that many different kinds of people have made tea from this plant. The Nüwa word for any kind of tea is "cha'a," which is remarkably similar to the word for tea in many other languages worldwide, such as Chinese (cha') or Hindi (chai). Ephedra has been used as a remedy to treat colds, asthma, coughs, chills and other ailments, but it has also been consumed for centuries as simply a stimulating tea. Members of the LDS church drank it historically as a replacement for coffee and tea because it contains no caffeine, which church members avoid, and several species can be found in Utah.

Ephedra contains an alkaloid called ephedrine which is similar in structure to adrenaline. Ephedrine and its synthesized version pseudoephedrine are common ingredients in over-the-counter cold medicine and allergy medications. Because it tends to increase metabolism and suppress appetites, ephedrine has been used in diet pills. About 10 or 15 years ago, Ephedra got a lot of negative publicity because several deaths involved the over-usage and abuse of ephedrine, including a professional football player who took massive doses in an attempt to lose 30 pounds in two weeks.

As a result, Ephedra got a bad reputation and its usage was curtailed, which seems unnecessary, considering it has been safely used for thousands of years by many cultures, including the Chinese. The key is to consume it in moderation and not in ridiculous quantities. It has a mild and nutty fresh flavor without bitterness, so that it doesn't need honey or sugar. I gather some of the younger shoots — it’s an evergreen plant so the stems are always available, but look for the brightest green ones — wash them off, cut off the dark woody stems and discard them, and then boil the green stems for about 10 minutes and they produce a delicious cup of tea. You can serve it hot for one of Tehachapi’s cold winter nights or over ice for our warm summer days.

My grandfather was a shepherd in the surrounding area, primarily the Mojave Desert, in the late 1890s and early 1900s, and he and the shepherds would gather Ephedra and make tea at night. Those who drink this tea today are sharing a beverage that has been heated over the campfires of Indians, Spaniards, miners, shepherds, explorers and others in the American West for centuries.

Have a good week.

Pictures of the herb Ephedra

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  Ephedra Berries

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  Ephedra bush

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