This product is the root and rhizome of the perennial herbaceous shrub Ephedra (Ephedra sinca stapf) or intermediate Ephedra (Ephedra intermedia Schrenk et C.A.Mey.) of the Ephedraceae family. It is mainly produced in Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Sichuan, and other regions. It is harvested after the Beginning of Autumn (13th solar term). The fibrous roots are removed, and it is dried and cut into segments. It is used in its raw form. The best quality is characterized by a brownish-red surface, a pale yellow xylem in cross-section, and a dry texture.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet, neutral. Act on lung meridian.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Astringent and sweat-stopping. This product is sweet and neutral in nature, primarily entering the lung meridian. It can circulate throughout the body's surface to strengthen the muscles and skin, consolidate Weiqi, and is specifically effective in astringing and stopping sweating, making it a specialized medicine for stopping sweating.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for spontaneous sweating and night sweats. This product is sweet and neutral in nature, specializing in consolidating the exterior and stopping sweating. It treats qi deficiency spontaneous sweating, often in combination with medicinals such as Astragalus Root and White Atractylodes Rhizome, to replenish qi and consolidate the exterior to stop sweating; for yin deficiency night sweats, it is often combined with medicinals like Unprocessed Rehmannia Root and oyster shell, to enhance the effect of nourishing yin and astringing sweat; for postpartum qi and blood deficiency with persistent sweating, it is paired with Chinese Angelica and Astragalus Root and other tonifying and replenishing qi and blood medicinals, such as Ephedra Root Powder.
2. In addition, this product also has the effect of stopping sweating when used externally. For deficient sweating, it is combined with oyster shell and ground into powder to be applied to the body; for foot sweating, it is combined with Talc and oyster shell and ground into powder for external use.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Materia Medica literature Bencao Jing Jizhu: "Stops sweating, used in summer mixed with powder."
2. Yaoxing Lun: "Ephedra Root, stops sweating at the nodes."
3. Bencaozheng Yi: "Ephedra induces sweating, while the root nodes specifically stop sweating."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount by grinding into powder for dusting.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Contraindicated for those with exterior pathogens.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains various alkaloids, with its main components being Ephedra Root base, Ephedra Root alkaloids A, B, C, D, and Ferula histamine, among others. It also contains Ephedra Ning A, B, C, D, and Ephedra phenols, which are biflavonoids.

1. Ephedra Root base has the effect of raising blood pressure.
2. Ephedra Root alkaloids A and B have the effect of lowering blood pressure.
3. Ephedra Root extract can weaken the contraction of isolated frog hearts.
4. It has a dilating effect on peripheral blood vessels.
5. It has a contracting effect on the smooth muscles of the intestines and uterus.