EPHEDRA (Ma Huang, Ephedra sinica) EPHEDRA (Ma Huang, Ephedra sinica)Common Use
Asthma
In Chinese herbal medicine, ephedra is a wellknown herbal supplement for people and pets with respiratory conditions including asthma.
Ma huang was traditionally used by Chinese herbalists during the early stages of respiratory infections, and also for the short-term treatment of certain kinds of asthma, eczema, hay fever, narcolepsy, and edema. However, ma huang was not supposed to be taken for an extended period of time, and people with less than robust constitutions were warned to use only low doses or avoid ma huang altogether. Japanese chemists isolated ephedrine from ma huang (only the Asian species of ephedra contains the active compounds ephedrine and pseudoephedrine). It soon became a primary treatment for asthma in the United States and abroad. Ephedra’s other major ingredient, pseudoephedrine, became the decongestant Sudafed. Dieters now use ephedrine as a weight-loss supplement.
When used properly, ephedra may be useful as a short-term treatment for sinus congestion and mild asthma.
In people, it is recommended that ephedrine not be used for more than 1 week. In view of the documented dangers of ephedrine, medical supervision is highly recommended when using ephedra. Some holistic veterinarians recommend not using ephedra in pets due to the potential side effects.
The pet should be prescribed the lowest dosage possible and strict veterinary supervision is essential. For pets with asthma, long-term therapy will probably be necessary. Close monitoring by your veterinarian is essential for pets on long-term ephedra therapy.
Ephedra should not be taken by those people or pets with enlargement of the prostate, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, or hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, it should never be combined with monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) or fatal reactions may develop. If symptoms such as a rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, anxiety, or restlessness develops, see your veterinarian.
Cats exhibit idiosyncratic reactions; for this reason, it should probably not be used in cats. Ephedra, most commonly prescribed for pets with asthma or respiratory problems, can cause heart arrhythmias and high blood pressure. Use with great caution in all pets. It should always be combined with other herbs to allow use of the lowest dose of ephedra possible.
Ephedrine mimics the effects of adrenaline and causes symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, agitation, insomnia, nausea, and loss of appetite. Unscrupulous manufacturers have promoted ma huang as a natural hallucinogen (“herbal ecstasy”) and not as a bronchial decongestant. Dosages of ephedrine required to produce psychoactive effects are exceedingly toxic to the heart; the FDA has documented 38 deaths of otherwise healthy young people who reportedly used ephedrine for psychedelic purposes.
Ephedra is not recommended for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver, heart, or kidney disease; similar precautions are probably warranted in pets.