What is Ephedra?

Ephedra is also known as 'Ma Huang ', a Chinese name. For more than 5000 years the herb is being used in China to treat asthma and respiratory infections. As the name assumes: Ephedra belongs tot the Ephedraceae family. Several types of this family were found in India, the United States, Australia, Afghanistan and plural European countries. American Ephedra, which grows in the dry southwest of the United States, was used by early immigrants for making tea: the so-called 'mormontea' or 'Indian tea. " Ephedra was also used to treat headaches, fever, colds and hay fever. Today, the active elements of the herb are found in many medications against colds or allergies.

History

The Chinese people call ephedra 'Ma Huang.'  In the year 3000 BC already they used the plant against asthma, rheumatism and joint pain. In the thirty's people were able to isolate ephedrine, the active element, from the ephedra crop.  In that period this element was used against asthma. Namely, Ephedrine widens the bronchi in the lungs.

Effects

The active element of the ephedracrop is 'ephedrine'. The effect of ephedrine is similar  to the effect of amfetamine: you feel bright, awake and active. Ephedrine stimulates the part of the nervous system that enables the body to activity. After using ephedrine, the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature increase and the bronchi widen. Extra energy releases. These effects can persist for a long time. Like amphetamine, ephedrine also affects on the appetite. It reduces the hungry feeling. However, like to amphetamine, the body will get accustomed to ephedrine. The appetite decreasing effect disappears. So, after a while, the hunger will be back. There are also differences between amphetamine and ephedrine. Where amphetamine mainly has a psychological effect, the effects of ephedrine are essentially physical. Brightness and a happy feeling, are common effects related to amphetamine, but are much less reported after using ephedrine. In contrast to amphetamine, ephedrine stimulates to a lesser extent the so-called 'rewarding center' of the brains. Which means: the part of the brains that ensures blissful feelings.
After five to eight hours half of total of ephedrine used, has disappeared from the blood.  After 24 hours the use of ephedrine is no longer detectable in the blood.