Ephedra is listed as the first drug for external infections. What are its side effects?

There is a medicine that, in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases", is a good medicine for treating diseases and saving lives by Zhang Zhongjing, a master of classic prescriptions; but in the eyes of some doctors, they think it is a tiger or wolf medicine and dare not use it lightly. The name of this medicine is weird, because it is called "ephedra", and many people misunderstand it as "trouble". But in fact, as long as this medicine is just right, it is a good medicine for treating diseases.

Ephedra decoction is the first prescription in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases", and the main medicine is ephedra. Ephedra is a unique plant that grows in the Gobi Desert. It has only thin stems and no leaves. Its underground roots can reach a depth of seven meters and firmly hold the soil. As long as they are adequately hydrated, they can survive for six months with zero rainfall. Therefore, ephedra grows in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and other places in my country. It is a plant that fixes sand and prevents soil erosion.

Ephedra contains a special alkaloid - ephedrine, which can increase blood pressure, relax smooth muscles, and has diuretic and diaphoretic functions. Therefore, in traditional Chinese medicine, it is said to have the effects of producing sweat and relieving the symptoms, relieving coughs and asthma, diuresis and reducing swelling, and is an external medicine. Ephedra is used in the ephedra decoction to relieve lung qi, open up intercourse, dispel wind and cold, and induce sweating to relieve the symptoms. Used in conjunction with Guizhi, it enhances the power of sweating and relieving superficial symptoms, and is used to treat external symptoms such as exogenous wind-cold, aversion to cold and fever, head and body pain, nasal congestion, no sweating, and floating and tight pulse.

Ephedra is used in Sanao Decoction to open up lung qi, dispel wind and cold and relieve asthma. When combined with almonds and licorice, it can enhance the anti-asthmatic effect and treat asthma and cough caused by external wind and cold and congestion of lung qi. certificate. Xiao Qinglong Decoction also uses ephedra, combined with asarum, dried ginger, pinellia, etc., to warm and resolve cold drinks, relieve asthma and cough, and treat old and chronic bronchitis. Maxing Shigan Decoction uses ephedra and raw gypsum to combine cold and heat, and adds almonds to enhance the power of clearing the lungs and relieving asthma. It can treat coughs and asthma caused by heat evil blocking the lungs, such as lobar pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and colds and coughs caused by cold and fire. etc. Ephedra is also used in Yuejiajiashu Decoction to promote sweating and diuresis, which helps dissipate edema. It is often used together with ginger and atractylodes to treat Feng Shui syndrome, such as nephrotic syndrome or allergic dermatitis.

In clinical practice, we encounter many respiratory diseases caused by allergies such as allergic rhinitis and variant asthma. Ephedra is a necessary medicine for clinical symptoms. It is as effective as a spray of Western medicine. Difference. However, in recent years, it has often been forced to use less or no more. Sometimes prescriptions for only 4 grams of ephedra require a doctor's signature. Without a signature, the pharmacy will refuse to administer the medicine.

Taking too much ephedra alone can cause a toxic reaction, which initially manifests as central nervous system excitement, nervousness, and a feeling of ecstasy. Then there are anxiety, irritability, palpitations, tachycardia, headache, dizziness, tremor, sweating and fever, or nausea, vomiting, epigastric distension and pain, mydriasis, difficulty in defecation, and precordial pain. Those with severe poisoning may suffer from blurred vision, difficulty breathing, convulsions, and finally death due to respiratory failure and ventricular fibrillation. Therefore, the so-called "success is also Xiaohe, and failure is Xiaohe". If used improperly, poisonous Chinese medicine can kill people; if used properly, it can be a life-saving medicine.

What is very interesting is that both the roots and stems of Ephedra can be used as medicine, but the Ephedra used as the stem has a diaphoretic effect, while the roots of Ephedra can antiperspirant. Clinically, patients with hot flashes and excessive sweating during menopause often use ephedra root to stop sweating. This is the best interpretation of the yin and yang theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Yin and yang coexist in one body, and yin and yang are in opposition to each other.