Details of Medicinal Plants

Chinese Ephedra

Ephedra sinica Stapf Ephedraceae

This gymnosperm is native to the dry areas of northern China, central Asia, and India. It grows into a shrub. Its main component "ephedrine" was isolated artificially by Nagayoshi Nagai in 1885.

Part used: terrestrial stem
Medicinal use: diaphoretic and antipyretic
Main component: ephedrine

Two or three scaly leaves at the joint of the stem (indicated by white arrow) are remnants of foliage leaves.

This is a dioecious plant. Red cones are formed in female plants.

The dried green stems become "Ephedra Herbs" after the is harvested in Autumn.