Ma Huang
| Ma Huang in TCM:Explore the properties of Ma Huang according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Factoids:
English Name: ephedra
Pharmacuetical Name: Herba Ephedrae
Properties: acrid, bitter, warm
Temperature: warm
Channels: LU, UB
Flavors: bitter, pungent
Special Properties:
disperses cold, resolves water accumulations, disperses wind
Alternate Forms:
- sheng - exterior disorders or asthma
- mi zhi (honey fried) - for asthma, reduces
dispersing function
Actions / Indications:
- Releases exterior cold (exterior wind cold excess,
chills, aversion to cold, fever, no sweating, strongest diaphoretic,
opens pores to induce sweating)
- Disperses LU qi; controls wheezing and asthma (obstructed
LU qi due to wind-cold causing wheezing, ventilates the LU, asthma)
- Promotes urination; reduces edema (edema due to exterior
pathogen)
- Disperses cold; invigorates circulation (yin sores,
carbuncles; bi syndrome, especially wind-damp)
Special Notes:
- Decoct first and remove the foam before adding other herbs to the
decoction. Unprocessed Ma Huang is strongest to promote sweat and drive
out pathogens.
- For yin sores use Ma Huang with Shu di
Huang, Bai Jie Zi, or Lu
Jiao Jiao
Contraindications:
- (cc: pregnancy)
- (cc: may raise BP and cause hypertension,
restlessness, or tremors)
- (cc: deficiency with sweating or wheezing)
- (note: long time use may cause heavy sweating that weakens the body)
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