Ephedra
Where To Found It: West Central China, Southern
Siberia, Japan.
It is found on sandy seashores and in temperate climates of both
hemispheres. The plant has stamens and pistils on separate flowers--staminate
flowers in catkins and a membraneous perianth, pistillate flowers
terminal on axillary stalks, within a two-leaved involucre. Fruit
has two carpels with a single seed in each and is a succulent cone,
branches slender and erect, small leaves, scale-like, articulated
and joined at the base into a sheath.
Ephedrine is salt of an alkaloid and is in shining white crystals
very soluble in water.
Modern Uses: A sympathetic nerve stimulant
resembling adrenaline, its effect on the unstriped muscular fibres
is remarkable. It acts promptly in relieving swellings of the mucous
membrane. It has valuable antispasmodic properties, acts on the
air passages and is of benefit in asthma and hay fever; it is also
employed for rheumatism; a 5 to 10 per cent solution has mydriatic
properties, prophylactically used for low blood pressure in influenza,
pneumonia, etc. Used in tablet form for oral or hypodermic administration
and in ampuls for hypodermic, intramuscular and intravenous use.
It can advantageously be used in solution with liquid paraffin,
either alone or in conjunction with methol camphor and oil of thyme.
Dose, 1/2 to 1 grain.
Other Names: Ephedrine. Epitonin. Ma Huang.
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