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Common Name: Ma Huang

General Information

Ephedra gerardiana is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
Ephedra gerardiana is a commonly used medicinal herb in India, where it is gathered in quantity from the wild for local use and trade[].
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - S.W. China to the Himalayas.

Habitat

Stony slopes and gravel terraces in drier areas of the Himalayas at 2400 - 5000 metres from Afghanistan to Bhutan[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained loamy soil and a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought resistant and are also lime tolerant[].
Plants are hardy to about -15°c[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. A sweet flavour[]. The fruit is about 7mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

Members of this genus contain various medicinally active alkaloids (but notably ephedrine) and they are widely used in preparations for the treatment of asthma and catarrh[]. Ephedrine acts promptly to reduce swellings of the mucous membranes and has antispasmodic properties, thus making it valuable in the treatment of asthma[]. This species contains between 0.28 and 2.79 alkaloids[]. The whole plant can be used at much lower concentrations than the isolated constituents - unlike using the isolated ephedrine, using the whole plant rarely gives rise to side-effects[]. The plant also has antiviral effects, particularly against influenza[]. The stems are a pungent, bitter, warm herb that dilates the bronchial vessels whilst stimulating the heart and central nervous system[]. The stems are also diaphoretic. diuretic and vasodilator[, , , ]. They are used internally in the treatment of asthma, hay fever and allergic complaints[]. They are also combined with a number of other herbs and used in treating a wide range of complaints238]. This herb should be used with great caution, preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[]. It should not be prescribed to patients who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or suffering from high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism or glaucoma[]. Ephedrine is seen as a performance-boosting herb and, as such, is a forbidden substance in many sporting events such as athletics[].
The stems are used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[]. Febrifuge, tonic and vulnerary, they are used in the treatment of severe bleeding and chronic fevers[]. A decoction of the stems and roots is used in Russia to treat rheumatism and syphilis[].
The stems can be harvested at any time of the year and are dried for later use[].
The juice of the berries is used to treat respiratory affections[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].
A good ground cover plant for dry soils[]. Plants should be spaced about 60cm apart each way[].

Other Uses

The wood is very close grained[]. Too small for commercial exploitation, though it is used locally for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse[]. It can also be sown in spring in a greenhouse in a sandy compost[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in the spring or early summer after the last expected frosts and give some protection in their first winter[].
Division in spring or autumn[].
Layering.