Margarita Artschwager Kay
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 In fact, another species of ephedra, used in Chinese traditional medicine for 5,000 years, is noted to have a slight resemblance to Equisetum and in Japan as well as in China has been confounded with the latter (Li Shih-chen 1973:161). Pliny (1938,7:291) recommended it for cough, asthma, and colic.
Ephedra grows in arid, rocky lands and possibly has been used since prehistoric times as a medicine in the American and Mexican West. The pollen appears in coprolites in an ancient (a.d. 200-800) southwestern cave site (Rein-hard, Hamilton, and Helvy 1991).
Modern Use. |
Earl Mindell
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 CAUTION: ephedra can cause dangerous side effects and should not be taken by anyone who has a history of heart disease or who is taking a prescription antidepressant. I recommend consulting a nutritionally oriented practitioner before using ephedra in any diet regimen.
Hydrocitric Acid (HCA): This is the active ingredient extracted from the sour Indian fruit garcinia cambogia, which Ayurvedic healers have used as a natural appetite suppressant for centuries. Marketed under the tradenames of Citrin™ and Citrimax™, as well as HCA, it is non-habit forming. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 If you use ephedra products, you should do so under the supervision of your physician or natural healer. 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! |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Ephedrine, the active ingredient in Sudafed, was copied from ephedra, a medicinal herb that has now been outlawed by the FDA even while Sudafed remains perfectly legal.)
5. All rapists would be given four years to run free before being taken off the streets, even though they were known to be dangerous. (Explanation: The FDA allows dangerous drugs to remain on the market for years, with hundreds of thousands of people being injured by them, before issuing a recall. Rezulin and Vioxx are just two of many such examples. Antidepressant drugs and statin drugs are probably next in line.)
6. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 And while nutritional supplements like ephedra get banned for being associated with a few dozen overdose deaths, blockbuster prescription drugs like Vioxx, which are suspected of contributing to more than 27,000 heart attacks, remain perfectly legal and FDA-approved. There's little hope that the trend will reverse, either. Modern medical researchers continue to look at isolated nutrients like vitamin E or lycopene rather than whole foods like nuts or tomatoes. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Do not use ephedra if you have anxiety disorder, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, insomnia, or prostate disease. Do not use this herb with an MAO inhibitor or tricyclic antidepressant. Drink eight glasses of water daily while taking this herb.
4Do not take wild angelica if you are pregnant.
FORMULAS
FORMULA COMMENTS
Ledebouriella Powder A traditional Chinese herbal formula that treats "beer barrel" That Sagely pattern of fat deposits. Reduces both percentage of body fat
Unblocks1 and total body weight without changes in the number of calories consumed. |
| For more information regarding these herbs, see AMERICAN GINSENG; CINNAMON; CORDYCEPS; EPHEDRA; EPIMEDIUM; GINSENG; SARSAPARILLA; and/or SIBERIAN GINSENG under The Herbs in Part One.)
FORMULAS
FORMULA COMMENTS
Eight-Ingredient A traditional Chinese herbal formula that relaxes the walls of
Pill with Rehmannia the bladder and increases urination, effectively flushing
(Rehmannia-Eight prostatitis organisms (which have a very short life span) out
Combination) of the genitourinary tract before they can cause damage. |
Grace Ross Lewis
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 The products usually contain stimulants such as ma huang, ephedra, kola nut, green tea, and guarana. These all contain caffeine. These combinations have caused heart attacks, strokes, and nerve damage as well as death in some individuals.
12. What is chitin?
It is a substance found naturally in the shells of crustaceans, such as crab, shrimp, and lobster. It is also found in the exoskeleton of marine zooplank-ton, such as coral and jellyfish. Insects also have chitin in their wings. Examples would be butterflies and ladybugs. The cell walls of mushroom and other fungi contain this also. |
| Synonyms: ephedra ? MA HUANG ? EPITONIN ? PSEUDOEPHIDR1NE
EPICHLOROHYDRIN_
Products and Uses: It is a solvent in paints, varnishes, nail polishes, enamels, and lacquers.
Precautions: Toxic by breathing, swallowing, and skin absorption; strong irritant. A carcinogen (causes cancer).
Synonyms: CAS: 106-89-8 ? CHLOROPROPYLENE OXIDE ? CHLOROMETHYLOXIRANE
EPSOM SALTS_
Products and Uses: Used medicinally, internally as a laxative and poison cathartic and for the treatment of cranial pressure and swelling. Topically, it is used as an anti-inflammatory. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 If you're taking other asthma drugs, check with your doctor before taking ephedra. Do not combine with caffeine use,- do not use while pregnant.
Coleus (Coleus forskohlii)
This plant is used in Ayurvedic remedies in India. It contains forskolin, a substance that relaxes the smooth muscle of airways, opening them for easier breathing. In an Austrian study, forskolin inhaled as a dry powder helped open the airways in asthma patients. So far, no studies have investigated the impact on asthma patients of whole coleus or forskolin taken in capsules. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Oyster Shell Powder
This traditional Chinese herbal formula combines astragalus, ephedra, and wheat with finely pulverized oyster shell. Modern TCM uses it for symptoms including fatigue, irritability, lethargy, shortness of breath, and spontaneous sweating that worsens at night. Textbooks of TCM note that people who have these symptoms usually are also easily startled.
The sages of Chinese herbal medicine understood this formula to work by "anchoring floating energies." Floating energies were displaced emotional energies that the body dissipated through nervous symptoms. |
| HERBS TO AVOID
LJ Individuals who have high blood pressure should avoid the following herbs: coltsfoot, dan shen, ephedra, licorice, and mate. (For more information regarding these herbs, see individual entries under The Herbs in Part One.)
RECOMMENDATIONS
LJ Use essential oil of lavender or lemon balm (melissa) in aromatherapy to relieve tension and lower blood pressure. {See AROMATHERAPY in Part Three.) There are also specific techniques that can help you relieve tension. (See RELAXATION TECHNIQUES in Part Three.)
LJ Reduce, but do not try to eliminate, salt from the diet. |
| Anyone with a medical condition for which ephedra would be appropriate should take the herb, by itself or in a recognized Chinese herbal formula, only after being medically examined for precluding conditions, such as high blood pressure. An herbalist or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner can help determine how this herb may best be used. ulate weight loss; restricting calories and increasing exercise are still a must. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 Like epinephrine, ephedra will also increase heart, brain, and muscle blood flow at the expense of kidney and intestinal blood flow.3
Bronchial muscle (the muscles of our airways), and uterine muscles are relaxed by ephedrine.3
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine relaxes bronchial muscle like ephedrine, but exerts weaker effects on the heart and central nervous system. Pseudoephedrine is often recommended in preference to ephedrine in the treatment of chronic asthma, as it has fewer side effects. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Certain drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, and the overuse of cold medications containing ephedra, can bring them on as well.
Symptoms
Astroke can produce different symptoms depending upon the part of the brain that is affected and the length of time that the brain is without oxygen. Small strokes may escape awareness and produce slight numbness on the face or another part of the body. Severe strokes can cause any number of symptoms, including paralysis, loss of speech, loss of memory, loss of movement, an inability to swallow, or death. |
| To open bronchial passages, adrealinum is sometimes used, and ephedra vulgaris is prescribed for queasiness and weakness. Other homeopathic remedies for respiratory problems include belladonna, which may alleviate breathing difficulty, and soidago virgaurea, which aids in stemming heavy mucus, and curbing coughs.
Stress Management
Relaxation techniques are helpful in overcoming feelings of fear and loss of control, which can accelerate a breathing crisis. Deep yogic breathing can immediately replace a sense of tightness in the chest with a calming sensation. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 DECONGESTANT: Camphor; Ma Huang; African Blue Basil; Black Mustard; Sage; Hoary Basil; Hairy Rosemary; Iberian Savory; Montane Mountain Mint; Pakistani Ephedra; Qinghao; Douglas' Savory; Rosemary; African Blue Basil; Greek Sage; Lavender Rosemary; Aspic; Hyssop; Mendiza-bali's; Horseradish.
DERMATITIGENIC: Avocado; Chir Pine; English Filbert; Macadamia; Peruvian Yellow Oleander; African Oil Palm; Manila; Apricot; Brazilnut; Pistachio; Simaruba; Bark; Andiroba; Candlenut; Caper Spurge; Almond; Olive; Sunflower; Plum; Antler Herb. |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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 Tyler cautions that ephedra will also act as a mild stimulant and should be avoided if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. Drink two cups a day until you feel better.
What if It's an Allergy}
If your doctor says your chronic stuffy nose results from an allergy, these are the basic treatments.
Avoid the allergen. If you work outdoors, you can't avoid ragweed, but you can banish the kitty from the bedroom. Learn what you're allergic to, and learn to avoid it whenever possible, says Dr. Enberg.
Take your medicine. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 Among them were marshmallow root, now widely recognized as a tonic for sore throats and upset stomachs; yarrow, a common remedy for fevers and high blood pressure; and ephedra, which for thousands of years has been used to help fight colds, flu, and asthma.
Were the herbs planted there because they produce pretty flowers or because of their healing powers? No one can know for sure, but it seems that this was one Neanderthal who was well-prepared for his journey to another world. it at least once will help you get comfortable. Then you can make tinctures forever, using books. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 Do not use herbal diet products that contain ephedra. This is a central nervous system stimulant, and should be avoided.
HOMEOPATHY
¦ Antimonium crudum is good if you become peevish and irritable if anyone warns you not to overeat. You are also subject to belching and diarrhea, and may have a coated tongue. Take one dose of Antimonium crudum 30x or 7c each morning and another in late afternoon for up to five days.
¦ Argentum nitricum reduces cravings for sweets. Take one dose of Argentum nitricum 30x or 9c twice daily for up to one week. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| The pharmacology of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine is discussed below, followed by therapeutic applications of ephedra sinica.
Ephedrine
Ephedrine's basic pharmacological action is similar to that of epinephrine (adrenaline), although ephedrine is much less active. Ephedrine also differs from epinephrine in its ability to be absorbed orally, its longer duration of action, and its more pronounced effect on the brain and central nervous system (CNS). The CNS effects of ephedrine are similar to those of amphetamines, but again much less potent. |
Jean Carper
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 In two prominent national tragedies involving natural medicines, one was caused by the use of ephedra or ma huang to get high; the other was reportedly caused by toxic contaminants in 1-tryptophan, properly being used as a sleeping pill. Such tragedies should not happen, and everything should be done to see they do not happen. The potential dangers and instructions for proper use of natural products should be clearly spelled out on labels, and there should be guarantees that natural remedies are free of dangerous impurities and contain what they should. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| Many believe that the therapeutic effect of ephedra will diminish if used for a long period of time, owing to a weakening of the adrenal glands caused by ephedrine. But, according to the American Pharmaceutical Association, "there is far more discussion of ephedrine tachyphylaxis [rapid decrease in effectiveness] or tolerance than is evidenced as a significant problem in the scientific literature. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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| Ephedrine, extracted from ephedra leaf, is widely used as a decongestant. You can find its synthetic form, pseudoephedrine, in many allergy, sinus, and cold medications produced by large pharmaceutical companies.
The records of King Hammurabi of Babylon (c. 1800 b.c.E.) include instructions for using medicinal plants. Hammurabi prescribed the use of mint for digestive disorders. Modern research has confirmed that peppermint does indeed relieve nausea and vomiting by mildly anesthetizing the lining of the stomach.
The entire Middle East has a rich history of herbal healing. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| Herbal recommendations for asthma and hay fever
The old-time herbal treatment of asthma and hay fever involves the use of ephedra in combination with herbal expectorants. Expectorants are herbs that modify the quality and quantity of secretions of the respiratory tract, resulting in the expulsion of the secretions and improvement in respiratory tract function. Examples of commonly used expectorants include lobelia (Lobelia inflata), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and grindelia (Grindelia camporum). When using combination preparations, the dosage should be equivalent to 12. |
| Hikino H, Konno C, Takata H, and Tamada M: Antiinflammatory principle of ephedra herbs. Chem Pharm Bull 28,2900-2904,1980.
5. Kasahara Y, et al: Antiinflammatory actions of ephedrines in acute inflammations. Planta Medica 54, 325-331,1985.
6. American Pharmaceutical Association: Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, 8th Ed. American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, DC, 1986.
7. Tinkelman DG and Avner SE: Ephedrine therapy in asthmatic children. JAMA 237, 553-557,1977.
8. Astrup A, et al. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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| Commonly referred to by its Chinese name, ma huang, ephedra can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and overstimulate the central nervous system, which controls the brain. "It's kind of like taking speed. Your whole body is working faster and burning more calories," says Paula Ceh, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy at Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Indianapolis. Use of this herb has been linked to heart palpitations, stroke, chest pain, heart attack, and, in at least two instances, death. There's no question about this one: Avoid it. |
Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D. and Jean Barilla, M.S.
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 CAUTION: ephedra should never be used by pregnant women or people with high blood pressure. eucalyptus Australians ease congestion by breathing in eucalyptus vapors. To try this, put the leaves into a large pot of boiling water, and boil them for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and, with a towel draped over your head, breathe in the steam. You can also add a few drops of lemon balm or chamomile oil. All of these will soothe mucous membranes. CAUTION: Don't get too close to the steam — you could burn your face. |
Francois Couplan, Ph.D.
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 The seeds were roasted, ground and mixed ephedra trifurca with other flours to be eaten as a mush by Indians.
The species used most widely for both tea and seeds are E. nevadensis and tr if urea.
A few Eurasian species (E. distachya, major) bear small red fruits which are sweetish and edible.
Flowering Plants
(h agnoliophyta)
I. Dicotyledons
(k agnoliatae)
ML lgnoliaceae
Uriodendron tulipifera (G 2) Tulip tree, Yellow Poplar
7rom the Greek "lirion," lily, and "dendron," tree: referring to the showy lowers.
I. N.Am.
The tree is planted as an ornamental. |
American Medical Publishing
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| For example, drugs used to treat high-blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease — all more common ailments as people get older — should not be taken with products containing ginseng or ephedra (also called Ma Huang). Chemicals in these plants can increase blood pressure.
Also prevent strokes and other vascular problems, many elderly people take "blood-thinning" or anti-clotting drugs, including Coumadin (generic: Warfarin) and Plavix (Clopidogrel). The herbs feverfew and ginko biloba as well as Vitamin K should not be taken with "blood thinners. |
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