Properties: Sweet, cool
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Bladder, Lung
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Heat and drains Dampness
Damp-Heat jaundice
Dysentery, diarrhoea
Stranguary
- Relieves cough
Fever and cough
Asthma
- Resolves Toxicity eliminates welling abscesses
Swelling Toxins of welling abscesses and sores
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.5-5g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated in hypertension.
It should not be used in conjunction with MAOIs, central nervous system stimulants, ergotamines and xanthines, because ephedrine may enhance their effects by acting as a receptor level agonist.
Notable Constituents:
- Ephedrine
Amphetamine alkaloid with bronchodilatory, anti-hypotensive and CNS stimulant properties. Its variant pseudoephedrine is used in many cough, cold and flu remedies.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, has been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
