Ephedra
Ephedra sinica
Other names: Ephedra, 麻黄 / 麻黃 máhuáng, Ma huang / Chinese ephedra
Photo credit: alexlomas (Flickr)
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: Serious cardiovascular risk via sympathomimetic alkaloids (ephedrine). | SERIOUS. Contains ephedrine (sympathomimetic). Even short-term low-dose use linked to sudden hypertension, heart attack, seizures, and stroke; can be life-threatening or disabling.
Contraindications: Do NOT use with cardiovascular conditions, thyroid disease, diabetes, or prostatic enlargement with urinary difficulty. | Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, pregnancy, anxiety disorders; effectively contraindicated for general use.
Interactions: With cardiac glycosides or halothane → arrhythmias; guanethidine enhances sympathomimetic effect; with MAO inhibitors → possibly fatal hypertension; with secale (ergotamine) derivatives or oxytocin → hypertension. | Stimulants, MAO inhibitors, caffeine, antihypertensives, cardiac/CNS drugs - dangerous combinations.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Contraindicated.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
decoction · stem
Part used: stem
Traditional use: Traditionally used for asthma, bronchitis and nasal/sinus congestion, and for allergic conditions such as hay fever.
How to prepare (traditional): Traditionally prepared as a decoction of the dried herb, but because of its potent alkaloids (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine) and serious contraindications, actionable home dosing is withheld here.
Dosage note (descriptive only): professional use only - not provided
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
decoction · aerial parts
Part used: aerial parts
Traditional use: Traditionally prescribed for asthma.
How to prepare (traditional): Decoction of the stems (collected through the year and dried), prescribed by herbalists.
Dosage note (descriptive only): professional use only — not provided
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
powder · aerial parts
Part used: aerial parts
Traditional use: Used in Chinese medicine for kidney energy deficiency.
How to prepare (traditional): Powder of the stems.
Dosage note (descriptive only): professional use only — not provided
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
tincture · aerial parts
Part used: aerial parts
Traditional use: Traditionally used for rheumatic aches and pains.
How to prepare (traditional): Tincture of the stems.
Dosage note (descriptive only): professional use only — not provided
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not applicable.
Healing traditions
Sources (4)
- Hoffmann D., Medical Herbalism (2003) — materia medica, Ephedra sinica
- Ephedra sinica (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra_sinica
- Ephedra (NCCIH/NIH), English, 2024, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ephedra
- Ephedra (LiverTox, NCBI Bookshelf NBK548711), English, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548711/