Ma Huang - 麻黄 - Herba Ephedrae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Ephedrae |
| Common English: | Chinese Joint Fir Ephedra Stem Mormon Tea Northern Aromatic Numb Yellow |
Category
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Cold Diaphoretics)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Slightly Bitter (Bitter) | Warm | Lung Bladder | 1.5-10g Tincture: 1-3ml Cook first and skim off the foam. |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Induces sweating and releases the Exterior | Wind-Cold Invades the Lung, with anhidrosis, chills, fever, headache and a tight, floating pulse Tai Yang Stage |
Disseminates and facilitates Lung Qi, calms wheezing and stops coughing | Wind-Cold Obstructs Lung Qi |
Promotes urination and reduces edema | Externally generated edema |
Warms and disperses Cold pathogens | Wind-Cold Bi Toxic sores without a head |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Ram. Cinnamomi | Sm. Armeniacae | Gypsum |
Wind-Cold Excess conditions with fever and chills but no sweat. Wind-Cold-Damp Bi. | Wind-Cold coughing and wheezing. | Coughing from Heat Obstructing the Lungs with wheezing, flaring of the nostrils and fever. Wind-edema. |
| Gypsum | Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
More severe cough from Heat Obstructing the Lungs with wheezing, fever and flaring of nostrils. | Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency. | Acute-onset edema. |
| Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Gypsum |
Wind-Cold Bi. Colds and edema associated with Yang Deficiency. | Yin furuncles caused by Cold-Damp Obstructing the Channels. Coughing and wheezing associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency. Cough and wheezing with difficult inhalation due to Kidneys not grasping Qi. Warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals. Deficiency Cold at the Ying Stage. | Excess Heat generated by the use of Ma Huang. |
| Sm. Ginkgo | Rz. Zingiberis | Sm. Armeniacae |
Calms wheezing. | Wheezing or cough due to an Exterior Wind-Cold Attack and Cold Stagnation in the Interior. | Wheezing and dyspnea due to Qi and Phlegm Stagnation. |
Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Sm. Coicis | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Edema with Exterior wind-Cold signs and symptoms. | Wind-Damp Bi. | Yin sores. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | ||
Arteritis obliterans, obliterating phlebitis or Raynaud's disease. |
Notes
- By opening the pores and interstices, this herb works very well to release exterior conditions (it is diaphoretic and decongestant).
- It helps the Lung Qi move more smoothly while also making it descend.
- It is a key herb for wheezing, whether contracted externally or internally.
- Mild toxicity has been reported; the antidote is atropine.
- Cardiac arrhythmias may result from using this herb.
- In large doses it improves circulation and thereby enhances pain relief.
- Mediator response is inhibited by this herb.
- Paired with Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi, it is used for Cold disorders.
- Paired with Gypsum Shi Gao, it is used for hot disorders.
- The roots act opposite to the tops and may be used to counter an overdose.
- Because the nodes that join the leaf segments are slightly toxic, they are removed.
- Its Western relative, Ephedra Viridis, contains very little ephedrine; Mormons drink it as Mormon Tea or Brigham Tea.
- In China it has been used to treat asthma for more than 5,000 years.
- Cleaned Ephedra Jing Ma Huang has a stronger diaphoretic effect and is the form generally used.
- Ephedra Cotton Ma Huang Rong is slightly less diaphoretic.
- Prepared Ephedra Zhi Ma Huang is less diaphoretic but better able to calm the Lungs.
- Honey-fried Ephedra Mi Zhi Ma Huang is less diaphoretic, yet its action lasts longer.
From Class
- Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig): Used instead of Ma Huang when that can't be used, to raise neutrophils. (Yuen)
- Ma Huang (ephedra): Lung/bladder affinity herb to raise neutrophils (immediate reaction). (Yuen)
- Hemp seed (Ma) & 'Ma' herbs (Ma Huang, Tian Ma): Ma Huang brings earth energy up to the head (contraindicated with high blood pressure/palpitations); Tian Ma brings blood to the brain. (Yuen)