Kathi Keville
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 Several deaths have been linked to misuse of ephedra, so it's best to use this herb under medical supervision.
Other herbs that affect the adrenal glands include gentian and vervain. Gentian can make your body more sensitive to the adrenal hormone adrenaline.
It is safe for most people to use, but in Germany people with high blood pressure are discouraged from taking it. Vervain has quite the opposite action, slightly depressing the heart rate, at least in animals, and constricting the bronchials. You should avoid it if you have asthma. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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 Quercetin
• Ground flax seeds or flax oil
Profiles of herbs used in this formula:
Ma huang, ephedra sinica/spp., is an alpha and beta adrenergic agonist. It also releases norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons. It is a diuretic, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, decongestant, bronchodila-tor, anti-inflammatory and antitussive.58,59 It keeps the airways open, allowing free flow of air due to its antispasmodic nature. It is also an extremely drying herb, decreasing congestion in the respiratory tract. Ma huang is anti-inflammatory and has antiallergenic actions. |
Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D.
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| WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS are additional concerns. ephedra is the main ingredient in Meth and comes from Mahuang often used in natural weight loss products. And Guarana is almost pure caffeine. Both of these have powerful stimulant effects and will lead to depression and fatigue. AMINO ACIDS and HIGH PROTEIN DIETS after use of these medications are also dangerous. I have seen patients go through antidepressant withdrawal, do very well for some time and then try the Atkins High Protein Diet (which I thought had killed enough people in the 70's for us to learn how dangerous this diet is). |
Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D. and Jean Barilla, M.S.
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 For centuries, the Chinese have been stir-frying ephedra roots in honey and mixing them with apricot kernels. They find this preparation effective to treat asthma and a host of other illnesses.
Ma huang is the source of ephedrine, an active ingredient in many of our modern allergy and cold medications. Ephedrine causes the release of epinephrine, the quickly active stimulant component of adrenaline — used today to treat asthma by relaxing smooth muscle bronchoconstriction. Ma huang is available in health food stores and Oriental markets. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Its stimulant compound is ephedrine, the same one found in Chinese ephedra, the decongestant, anti-asthma herb. Country mallow contains some 850 parts per million of ephedrine, which probably explains its use for impotence. As with caffeine, ephedrine can get you wired, and some men experience that as sexual arousal.
V Guar ana (Paullinia cupana). Brazilians drink gallons of guarana tea and guarana soft drinks and often mention it as an aphrodisiac. |
John Heinerman
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 We found that all of them shared one or two things in common, namely kola nut and/or ephedra (mahuang). The first contains caffeine and the second ephedrine; both dramatically stimulate the central nervous system and can, with long-term use, injure the body by creating a druglike dependency on them.
Naturally I refused to go this route and opted for something else instead as the "kicker" to making an herbal energy formula work. My studies led me to look at club moss very carefully. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| This approach appears to have considerable merit as ephedra and its alkaloids have proven effective as bronchodilators for the treatment of mild to moderate asthma and hay fever.59,60 The peak bronchodilation effect occurs in 1 hour and lasts about 5 hours after administration. In addition to this approach, several other botanical medicines deserve mention.
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Licorice root has a long history of use as an antiinflammatory and anti-allergic agent, actions which have now been documented in the scientific literature (see Ch. 90). |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| Many medical botanists say that ephedra is one of the world's oldest medicines. The Chinese, who call it ma huang, have used this herb for thousands of years to treat asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Scientists isolated its active chemical constituents, ephedrine and pseu-doephedrine, in 1887. It wasn't until after World War I, however, that American doctors started prescribing these substances. At that time, doctors became aware of the chemicals' effects as bronchodilators, nasal decongestants and central nervous system stimulants. |
| Because it does have stimulant properties, I would advise against using ephedra to treat asthma in children unless you first discuss it with the child's pediatrician.
VW Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Four hundred years ago, the British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that nettle roots or leaves, used in juice or tea, were "safe and sure medicines to open the pipes and passages of the lungs."
For many years, Australians have viewed nettle as a good treatment for asthma. |
| When I use ephedra, I brew a tea using a half-teaspoon or so of dried herb (or a half-teaspoon to one teaspoon of tincture) per cup of boiling water. I steep it until it's cool enough to drink. These forms of the herb are safe to use at the recommended doses.
V%, Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). This herb has a sharp, pungent aroma that is familiar to anyone who has ever sniffed Vicks Vapo-Rub. It comes about as close as we get in modern times to smelling salts. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Botanical medicines
Combinations of an ephedrine source such as ephedra sinica with a methylxanthine source such as coffee (Coffea arabica), tea (Camellia sinensis), cola nut (Cola nitida), or guarana (Paullinea cupana) can be used at a dosage to provide 20-30 mg/day of ephedrine and 80-100 mg/day of methylxanthines.
REFERENCES
1. Kuczmarski R, Flegal KM, Campbell SM et al. Increasing prevalence of overweight among US adults. JAMA 1994; 272: 205-211
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of overweight among adolescents - United States, 1988-91. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| Also known as ma huang or Chinese ephedra, this herb contains two powerful decongestants, ephedrine and pseu-doephedrine. They can help drain the fluid in the middle ear that is associated with middle ear infections. Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter decongestants. One of these products, Sudafed, even takes its name from this compound. In a study of fliers with recurrent ear pain, 70 percent of those who took pseudoephedrine experienced relief. problem.
Be careful to stick to the recommended doses when using this herb. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Anti-inflammatory principle of ephedra herbs. Chem Pharm Bull 1980; 28: 2900-294
11. Kasahara Y, Hikino H, Tsuru S, Watanabe M, Ohuchi K. Antiinflammatory actions of ephedrines in acute inflammations. Planta Medica 1985; 54: 325-331
12. Zarrindast MR, Hosseini-Nia, Famoodi F. Anorectic effect of ephedrine. Gen Pharmacol 1987; 18: 559-561
13. Astrup A, Madsen J, Hoist JJ, Christensen NJ. The effect of chronic ephedrine treatment on substrate utilization, the sympathoadrenal activity, and expenditure during glucose-induced thermogenesis in man. Metabolism 1986; 35: 260-265
14. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler
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 In Chinese traditional medicine, ephedra is used as an anti-asthmatic, a diuretic and for the treatment of allergies, among other disorders. Other folk medicines use it in similar ways.
Ephedrine has pronounced stimulating effects on the central nervous system. It has a more prolonged though less potent action than adrenaline. It can cause blood pressure elevation and increased heartbeat. It also dilates the bronchioles and is thus helpful in the treatment of asthma. It is also used in the treatment of narcolepsy, nasal congestion and symptomatic treatment of allergies. |
| There is one report that ephedra sinica contains a substance that inhibits the growth of Influenza B virus. This should be pursued.
Euphorbia
(Toxic to Kidneys)
Euphorbia is now available in the United States and is claimed to be beneficial in the treatment of asthma, hay fever and sinusitis. The herb that is used, also known as snake weed, is from the plant Euphorbia pilulifera. The dried plant has been used as a folk remedy for many years. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 People with diabetes or high blood pressure should avoid ephedra, as should pregnant women.)
Ginseng: Ginseng can raise blood pressure in some people. If you have high blood pressure, check with your physician or natural healer before using ginseng.
Magnesium and potassium: Magnesium and potassium supplements should not be taken by people with kidney disease.
Niacin (Vitamin B3): This vitamin (which is often prescribed for high blood cholesterol) should be used with caution by anyone with severe diabetes, glaucoma, peptic ulcers, impaired liver function, or gout. |
| If taken in high enough doses, ephedra can cause fatal heart problems.)
Peppermint—Peppermint has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, primarily for the treatment of indigestion and intestinal colic as well as in the treatment of colds, fever, and headache.
Personal Advice
We all want to be mothered when we have a cold; maybe that's because those comforting home remedies that were passed on from generation to generation work! Here are a few examples. |
Ruth Winter
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 See also ephedra. EPICHLOROHYDRIN • A colorless liquid with an odor resembling chloroform. It is soluble in water but mixes readily with alcohol and ether. A modifier for food starches that the FDA permits to be used up to level of 0.3 percent in starch. Used as a solvent for cosmetic resins and nitrocellulose (see) and in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, and cements for celluloid articles. A strong skin irritant and sensitizer. Daily administration of one milligram per kilogram of body weight to skin killed all of a group of rats in four days, indicating a cumulative potential. |
| E. ephedra equisetina. E. helvetica. Ma Huang. Mormon Tea. There are about forty species of this herb mentioned in ancient scriptures of India, and it was used by the Chinese for more than five thousand years. The stems contain alkaloids (see) including ephedrine (see). Herbalists use the herb to treat arthritis, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, hay fever, and hives. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| It is safe when used responsibly, but because of its many potential side effects, I hesitate to recommend it without this proviso: Before taking ephedra, please discuss it with your doctor. To be on the safe side, start with a weak tea.
V Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Both antiseptic and immune stimulating, goldenseal reportedly increases the blood supply to the spleen, an organ that's the staging area for the fighting cells of your immune system. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), 500 mg two to three times a day.
• ephedra tea (for adults), one to three cups daily (if it makes you jittery or irritable, or if you have high blood pressure, don't use it).
• Licorice root tincture to support the adrenal glands (follow directions on the container). Don't use for more than three weeks if you have high blood pressure.
• St. John's wort (Hypericum) to help control anxiety.
• Ginkgo biloba in a standardized extract, 60 mg one to three times daily.
• MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a form of organic sulfur. |
Christian Ratsch
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 Ephedra spp. terious Aztec inebriant poyomatli. According to Jonathan Ott, who has experimented with these flowers as well as cacao preparations containing them, Quararibea flowers are not psychoactive (Ott 1993, 418*). However, several interesting substances are present (v-butyrolactones, alkaloids) that may indeed have psychotropic effects (Raffauf and Zennie 1983).
The Peruvian inebriant espingo, which has not been clearly identified, has also been interpreted as the fruit of a Quararibea species. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 People use it as an alternative to ephedra and caffeine supplements. It is thought to have fewer side effects than other natural stimulants.
Ferrum phosphoricum, abbreviated as ferrum phos, is an important homeopathic remedy for treating anemia and fevers. This remedy is a combination of the minerals iron and phosphate.
Iron is an integral component of red blood cells, helping to bind oxygen so that it can be stored in the cells. Iron is in the food we eat, and a certain amount is added when you cook with cast-iron pots and pans. |
Michael Castleman
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 Garlic
After ephedra, garlic is considered the world's second oldest medicine (along with its close botanical relatives onions, scallions, leeks, chives and shallots). The oldest surviving garlic prescription, chiseled into a Sumerian clay tablet, dates from 3000 B.C. The ancient world revered garlic as a virtual panacea, but none loved it as deeply as the Egyptians, who consumed so much that the Greek historian Herodotus called them "the stinking ones. |
| As a result, it has shown some benefit as a weight-loss aid, but only in those who are significantly overweight. ephedra can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, so don't use it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or glaucoma.
How-to: For a decoction, use one teaspoon of twigs per cup of boiling water. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Reheat if desired. Drink up to two cups a day.
In a tincture, take up to 14 teaspoon a day.
When using commercial preparations, follow package directions. |
| One chemical in Chinese ephedra is the decongestant pseu-doephedrine," explains Varro Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and author of The New Honest Herbal. Pharmaceutical companies now synthesize pseudoephedrine as the decongestant in Actifed, Allerest, Contac, Tylenol Cold and Flu, NyQuil, Formula 44 and other cold formulas and allergy products. One brand—Sudafed—even takes its name from pseudoephedrine. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Standardized preparations are often preferred as they have more dependable therapeutic activity. ephedra can be combined with herbal expectorants as described above.
Glycyrrhiza glabra
• Powdered root: 1-2 g
• Fluid extract (1:1): 2-4 ml
• Solid (dry powdered) extract (4:1): 250-500 mg. Camellia sinensis. Liberal use (green tea only).
Tylophora asthmatica. Use 200 mg of tylophora leaves or 40 mg of the dry alcoholic extract twice daily.
Coleus forskolii. Use the extract standardized to contain 18% forskolin: 50 mg (9 mg of forskolin) two to three times daily. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| The ephedrine found in ephedra tea is the natural form of the pseudoephedrine found in many antihistamine remedies.
If you've tried everything and your allergy symptoms are still affecting the quality of your life, look into desensitization. Minuscule amounts of allergens are injected in gradually increasing amounts so that your body can learn not to respond with an allergic reaction. Treatment can be expensive and take up to three years, but it doesn't work for everyone.
Some cases of hay fever or allergic sinusitis can be greatly improved when food allergens are identified and eliminated. |
Marion Nestle
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 Its label states that the daily dose should not exceed 100 mg of ephedra alkaloids that and that the pills should not be taken for more than 12 weeks—a dose 4 times higher and that a course of application 12 times longer than the standards proposed by FDA. The label warns, "This product should NOT be used by individuals with heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or those who have difficulty urinating. It should NOT be taken concurrently with antihypertensive drugs or antidepressants containing MAO inhibitors. . . . |
Elson M. Haas, M.D.
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 HERBAL CAFFEINE SUBSTITUTES
Roasted barky Chicory root Dandelion root Postum Pero Pioneer
Rombouts Rosataroma Wilson's Heritage Cafix
Miso broth
Duran
Peppermint
Ginseng root Ginger root ephedra Comfrey leaf Lemon grass Red clover Comfrey leaf
Some authorities feel that if we are to drink a cup of coffee a day, we should do it in the mid to late afternoon, the most harmonious time. For the English, this is teatime. |
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