Ephedra, Ma Huang => What effects has ephedra on body and mind
What effects has ephedra on body and mind
Properties of Ephedra / Ma Huang
- Increasing urination, sweating, and reduces edema [lung]
- Clears the lungs, useful for either interior [asthma,COPD] or -exterior[colds,flues]wheezing and coughing.
- In combination with other herbs, has a long history of treating various respiratory diseases.
Research has shown:
- Ephedra can lower body temperature in rats, but overdose raises the temperature in humans.
- It has a systemic diaphoretic effect [sweating].
- Ephedra raises blood pressure and vasoconstricts, but it can vasodilate coronary blood vessels.
- Can cause insomnia, restlessness, and tremors.
- Overdose can cause arrhythmias.
Ephedrine
The main active compound in ephedra is ephedrine. Ephedrine's actions is similar to that of adrenaline. The effects of ephedrine, although less powerful, are more prolonged. Users of ephedrine have reported increased energy levels; heightening of the mood and strange tingling sensations on the skull. In some ways the effects of ephedrine can be compared to amphetamine (speed). Ephedrine has more or less the same impact on the body (for example: loss of appetite, increase of blood pressure and heart rate) but has much weaker impact on the mind. Ephedrine does not provide the euphoria that amphetamine does.
Risks of Ephedra / Ephedrine
Ephedrine acts as a stimulant and can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats. Because it's legal, many people use it, thinking it a totally safe alternative. However, this is not totally correct.
Ephedrine dilates the bronchial muscles, contracts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure, and is a cardiac stimulant. Although ephedrine produces psychological and physical stimulation to athletic performance, ephedrine produces adverse physiological effects. Ephedrine may induce an aggressiveness, anxiety and tremor which can lead to poor judgment, potentially placing you at risk of injury. Heart rate and blood pressure can be increased causing dehydration and decreased circulation. Complications from these adverse effects may result in strokes and heart irregularities, that can result in cardiac arrest and even death.
Dependency on Ephedrine
Users have also reported that a dependency can develop through regular use.
Ephedrine Family
There are four different members in the ephedrine family. The different forms vary in the effects they show predominantly: Nor-pseudo-epehedrine, nor-ephedrine and ephedrine shows amphetamine-like effects mostly. Nor-pseudoephedrine can be found in over the counter drugs that are used as an appetite suppressor.
Pseudo-ephedrine, the forth member, is weaker than the others but still exhibits amphetamine-like effects and has similar dangers. Its main effect is decongestion due to its vasoconstrictor effect. While this can promote drying of the mucous membranes, it can actually precipitate things like a runny nose if one is suffering from congestion.
by diphreda