Common Name: Ma Huang

General Information

Ephedra gerardiana is a densely tufted, much-branched evergreen shrub with very small, scale-like leaves, woody stems up to 15cm in diameter and green, wiry branches where most of the photosynthesis takes place; it can grow around 20 - 120cm 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.It is a commercail source of ephidrine, used medicinally in the treatment of asthma and other conditions[].
Ephedra gerardiana is harvested locally for its medicinal properties as well as for fuel and fodder, and is also the target of large-scale exploitation from drug manufacturers due to its high levels of the alkaloid ephedrine. It is suspected that the population has decreased by at least 30 - 50% across a fifteen year period. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

Many species in this genus contain phenylethylamine alkaloids (e.g. ephedrine, pseudoephedrine). These compounds have stimulant properties and are effective medications in the treatment of a number of conditions. However, they do also have potential side effects and are contraindicated in a number of conditions including anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension, thyrotoxicosis[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, south central China and the Russian republics of Tuva and Altay.

Habitat

Stony slopes and gravel terraces, often on calcareous soils, in drier areas of the Himalayas; at elevations from 2,400 - 5, 300 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The major habitat of Ephedra gerardiana is the cold deserts of the Himalayas, with some distribution in the arid regions of the tropical and subtropical Himalayas. This species is heat-resistant, cold-resistant, and does well in drought partially due to its near lack of vessels. It can survive with an annual rainfall of less than 350 mm[]. It can tolerate winter temperatures falling to about -15°c[].
Requires a well-drained loamy soil and a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought resistant and are also lime tolerant[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Plants require a good summer in order to fully ripen their wood - this will encourage good flowering and fruiting the following summer.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. A sweet flavour[]. The more or less ovoid fruit is about 7 - 8mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

Ephedra gerardiana has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems that dates back around 5,000 years. It is consumed in various forms including drinking the juice of the berries, boiling the stems to make a tea, or crushing the stems into a powder[]. The plant contains various medicinally active alkaloids, most notably ephedrine which has a stimulant action on the body similar to adrenaline.

The plant, especially the stems, is a pungent, bitter, warm herb that dilates the bronchial vessels whilst stimulating the heart and central nervous system[]. It is considered to be anti-rheumatic, anti-syphilitic, blood purifier, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[, , , , ]. It is used as a circulatory stimulant, and for dilating the pupils[]. It is used to relieve the symptoms of asthma and hay fever, and to treat conditions such as catarrh and diarrhoea as well as various allergic complaints and skin problems[, ]. The plant is also said to have antiviral effects, particularly against influenza[]. Because it stimulates the heart, it is used during anaesthesia to maintain blood pressure[]. Often in combination with a number of other herbs, the stems are used in treating a wide range of complaints238].
The stems are also used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[]. With activities such as 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 stimulatory action of the plant has similar effects to adrenaline on the body but is effective when taken orally. Therefore extracted ephedrine has sometimes been used as a recreational drug[].
In some areas of Pakistan, the branches are burned, and the ash is mixed with tobacco to make naswar, a type of snuff that helps relieve headaches[].

The fruit is used to treat respiratory afflictions including asthma, bronchitis, cough, and tuberculosis[, ].

The plant’s effectiveness in treating rheumatism has been scientifically confirmed by a study noting that this is due to the combination of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and antioxidants in the plant[].
Its effects in treating respiratory problems and increasing cardiac activity have also been confirmed[].
Its usefulness in treating respiratory problems is due to its strong antibacterial action and the action of ephedrine as a vasodilator[].
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[].
Ephedrine was first extracted and used in western medicine in the 1930's. While ephedrine can be synthetically made, the total crude extract from the plant has been found to be more effective in treating cold and flu than the synthetic equivalent[]. Thus the whole plant can be used at much lower concentrations than the isolated constituents. In addition, unlike using the isolated ephedrine, using the whole plant rarely gives rise to any side-effects[].

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 can be harvested at any time of the year and are dried for later use[].

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.