Ephedra – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, August 09, 2017 by Earl Garcia

Ephedra is an herb that is most commonly used in Chinese traditional medicine. The herb, also known as ma huang in Chinese, was believed to be first used in ancient Chinese medicine 5,000 years ago. The plant has also become a staple in folk medicine in certain countries including Germany, India, and Japan. According to an article on the Herbal Supplement Resource website, the herb is grown in other parts of the world including Mongolia, Southwestern United States, and Turkey as well as Iraq, Iran, and western areas of South America.

List of known nutrients

Ephedra is greatly valued for its beneficial effects on overall health. These effects are associated with the herb’s rich nutrient content. An entry posted on the Herbpathy website enumerates the many active compounds and nutrients found in ephedra.

Alkaloids
Amino Acids
Beta-Carotene
Calcium
Diosgenin
Ellagic Acid
Flavonoids
Gallic Acid
Iron
Linoleic Acid
Magnesium
Manganese
Methylephedrine
Palmitic Acid
Phosphorus
Polyphenols
Potassium
Saponins
Selenium
Stearic Acid
Stigmasterol
Tannins
Terpineol
Vanillic Acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Xylose
Yamogenin
Zinc

Medicinal uses for ephedra

Ephedra is commonly used as a remedy for respiratory conditions. The herb is known to reduce congestion and inflammation of the mucus membranes and clear the air passages, which in turn relieves bronchitis, asthma attacks, and wheezing. Likewise, ephedra is touted for its positive effects on the immune system. The herb contains certain steroidal properties that fortify the body against infections including colds and flu.

The herb is also a widely used treatment for low blood pressure or hypotension. The herb is found to improve blood pressure levels and boost the body’s cardiac profile. Aside from this, previous studies have shown that the superfood may help promote blood flow to the brain and other important organs. This, in turn, helps optimize neural processing and maintains brain health.

In addition, ephedra is found to relieve chronic fatigue and treat people who experience bouts of insomnia. The herb is also known to boost the body’s energy levels by stimulating the heart and increasing the blood flow to the muscles. Aside from this, the superfood is also touted for its beneficial effects on the digestive system. Ephedra boasts with active components that helps boost metabolism and speed up fat break down. This is especially helpful in people trying to shed pounds.

Body systems supported by ephedra

Ephedra’s steroidal properties make it an ideal superfood in promoting the body’s overall immunity against infections. Likewise, the herb’s anti-inflammatory effects help ensure that the respiratory tract is kept in check. The superfood is also shown to improve blood flow and maintain a healthy blood pressure. This means that the plant is an important component of the circulatory system’s health.

Aside from this, previous studies have already established that the herb is beneficial to the brain and the nervous system. Likewise, the herb is touted for its positive effects on the muscular system. Moreover, the superfood is shown to bolster metabolism and improve the digestive system’s health status.

Ways to use ephedra

Ephedra is most commonly consumed as tea. An article posted on the Crazy for Tea website features the how-tos of making ephedra or ma huang herbal tea.