Ephedra, from the plant Ephedra sinica, has been used as an herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold. Known in Chinese as ma huang (traditional Chinese: 麻黃; simplified Chinese: 麻黄; pinyin: má huáng), ephedra is a stimulant which constricts blood vessels and increases blood...
