Ephedra sinica

Ephedra sinica (also known as Chinese ephedra or Ma Huang) is a species of Ephedra native to Mongolia, Russia (Buryatiya, Chita, Primorye), and parts of northern China (Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi).^[2][3]

Chinese ephedra (Cao Ma Huang—草麻黄)
Ephedra sinica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Gnetophyta
Class:	Gnetopsida
Order:	Ephedrales
Family:	Ephedraceae
Genus:	Ephedra
Species:	E. sinica
Binomial name
Ephedra sinica Stapf
Synonyms[2]
Ephedra flava F.P.Sm. Ephedra ma-huang Tang S.Liu

Uses

Medicinal

Main article: Ephedra (medicine)

It is the primary source of the medicinal preparation ephedra, also known by its Chinese name, ma huang. It has been proposed as a candidate for the legendary soma of the Rigveda.

See also

• Chinese medicine
• Ephedra (US-specific page on ephedrine-containing dietary supplements, observed (negative) health effects of these, and corresponding regulatory actions toward them)
• List of herbs with known adverse effects