Herbology 1 -- Ma Huang Flashcards
Category
Warm, Acrid Herbs That Release the Exterior
Pharmaceutical Name
Ephedrae Herba
Family
Ephedraceae
Standard Species
Ephedra Sinica Stapf (草麻黄 cao ma huang)
Ephedra Intermedia Schrenk & C.A. Mey
(中麻黄 zhong ma huang)
Ephedra Equisetina Bge. (木賊麻黄 mu zei ma huang)
English
Ephedra Stem
Ma Huang
Japanese
Mao
Korean
Mahwang
Text in which first appeared
Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica
Properties
Acrid
Slightly Bitter
Warm
Channels Entered
Lung
Bladder
Key Characteristics
Induces Sweating
Calms Wheezing
Promote Urination
Dosage
2-9 Grams
Cautions & ContraIndications
- Spontaneous sweating from exterior deficiency
- Night Sweating from yin deficiency
- Kidney Deficiency Asthma
- Cannot Use Long Term
- Cannot Use with Hypertension
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- Because this herb has a rather strong effect of inducing sweating and opeing up the Lungs, the dosage should not be too large
- Nor should it be prescribed, without some adjustment in the prescription:
- for those who are debilitated
- those with spontaneous sweating from exterior deficiency
- those with night sweats from yin deficiency
- those with wheezing associal with the failure of Kidneys to accept qi
Actions & Indications
(Functions): 1 of 4
- Induces sweating & release the exterior
- For patterns of wind-cold exterior excess (greater yang cold damage)
- chills, fever, headache, absence of sweating, and a tight, floating pulse.
- This herb is very effective in opening the pores and interstices to release the exterior
Actions & Indications
Functions: 2 of 4
- Disseminates and facilitates the Lung Qi, calms wheezing, and stops coughing: for cough and wheezing due to wind-cold obstructing the Lungs
- Encourages the Lung Qi to flow more easily and directs it downward.
- Important for treating either externally-contracted or internally-generated wheezing
Actions & Indications
Functions: 3 of 4
- Promotes Urination and reduces Edema
- Especially for edema that accompanies an exterior condition. This is Yang Shui – open the Lung Qi and water can flow down.
- Easier to flow if the top and bottom are open
Actions & Indications
Functions: 4 of 4
- Warms and disperses cold pathogens
* Useful for wind-damp painful obstruction and deep-rooted toxic sores without a head
Preparations
- Sheng Ma Huang (raw)
* Induces Sweating - Zhi Ma Huang (Prepared with honey)
- Stops cough and asthma
- Cannot use for deficiency asthma (kidney yang deficiency asthma)
