Name of Chinese patent medicine: Fenghan Ganmao Granule. Comprises Herba Ephedrae, Radix Puerariae, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Radix Saposhnikoviae, Folium Perillae, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, Radix Platycodi, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Pericarpium Citri Tangerinae, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhrizae Radix. It has the effects of relieving exterior syndrome, sweating, expelling wind and dispelling cold. Used for common cold, fever, headache, aversion to cold, anhidrosis, cough, stuffy nose and runny nose.
Chinese ephedra
Ephedra is a commonly used medicine to dispel cold, and it is used for many colds, fevers and coughs, but patients may not know when to use Ephedra. First of all, with the different dosage of ephedra, the effect is also different. For example, the dosage of ephedra in Mahuang decoction is large, mainly sweating and relieving exterior syndrome, while the dosage of ephedra in Maxingshi dry decoction is small, mainly dispersing lung and relieving asthma. Secondly, when some people catch a cold and go to the drugstore to buy medicine, they will look at the efficacy of the packaging. Cold and cold granules (actually Mahuang decoction plus other drugs) have the effects of relieving sweating, expelling wind and dispelling cold. Used for common cold, fever, headache, aversion to cold, anhidrosis, cough, stuffy nose and runny nose. This refers to the evidence of exterior syndrome of wind-cold (severe wind-cold pathogen). If it is deficiency syndrome (lack of healthy qi), it is not suitable for eating. On the contrary, the more you eat, the more you consume qi and blood, so you should pay attention to syndrome differentiation and typing. Thirdly, Ephedra contains ephedrine (which can excite and raise blood pressure), so patients with hypertension should use it with caution.
What is ephedra like?
Ephedra: This product is the dried stem of Ephedra, Casuarina equisetifolia or Casuarina equisetifolia. Digging in late autumn, removing residual stems, fibrous roots and silt, and drying.
Herba Ephedrae pieces: remove woody stems, residual roots and impurities, and cut into sections.
This product is a cylindrical section. The surface is yellow-green to yellow-green, rough, with thin longitudinal ridges and small scales on the nodes. The center of this part is red and yellow. The gas is slightly fragrant, and the taste is astringent and slightly bitter.
Quality of medicinal materials: dry, thick stems, light green color, full heart and bitter taste.
Hand-pulled disjointed, hollow and yellow drugs are not allowed.
Sexual taste, pungent meridian tropism, slightly bitter, warm in nature. Enter lung meridian and bladder meridian.
Indications: sweating, dispelling cold, dispersing lung qi and relieving asthma, diuresis and detumescence. Used for colds, chest tightness, asthma and cough, and feng shui edema. Honey ephedra moistens lung and relieves cough. It is mostly used for relieving exterior syndrome, relieving asthma and relieving cough.
Mahuanggen: Sexual taste, sweet, astringent and flat meridian tropism. Enter the heart-lung meridian.
Functions and indications: strengthening exterior and stopping sweating. Used for spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
(Note: Ephedra and Ephedra root are different parts of the same plant, but their functions are completely different. )