| How
was Ma Haung discovered?
The
plant Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) is a cone-bearing shrub native to China, but is
now found also in the Mediterranean region, India, Persia, and the western portion
of South America. The Chinees have been using Ma Huang for over 5000 years as
a decongestient, antihistamine, and bronchial dilator.. People are now using it
to help lose weight.
How
does Ma Haung work?
The stimulants,
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are the two most widely used alkaloids of ma huang.
The alkaloids are less potent than adrenaline and more effective than caffeine.
Ma huang can increase energy and endurance. It works by increasing blood flow
to the muscles, resulting in an increase of oxygen and nutrient supply to the
muscles. Ephedrine also increases basal metabolic rate (BMR), so that the body
is spurred to burn calories faster. This process makes ephedrine a part of the
thermogenic process that can result in substantial weight loss. Thermogenisis
works by mobilizing white fat stores into the bloodstream, where they are carried
to the brown fat to be burned up and dissipated as heat.
What
are the Pro's of Ma Haung?
There
are many positive effects other than weight loss that Ma Huang has on the body.
Ma huang and its alkaloids have various medicinal uses, ma huang acts as a bronchial
dilator to dry up the sinuses. Pseudoephedrine, an isomer of ephedrine, is claimed
to have a longer bronchial dilating effect than ephedrine. It is helpful in treating
hay fever, allergies, and asthma. Bronchial dilation also aids in decongesting
the chest. Ma huang stimulates the nervous system to enhance mood, reduce fatigue,
and to make a person alert. The intact ma huang stem is much safer to use for
medicinal purposes than its alkaloid extracts. pure ephedrine raises blood pressure,
while ephedra stems reduce it. Comparing the alkaloid pseudoephedrine with the
entire plant, the entire plant causes fewer heart symptoms. When comparing alkaloid
for commercial cold preparations, pseudoephedrine is less risky than ephedrine.
What
are the Con's of Ma Haung?
Almost
all stimulants have the ability for side effects. Here are some side effects from
Ma Huang. The alkaloids of ma huang can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat. Blood
pressure rises. There have been reported cases of liver injury and hepatitis,
and users can experience aggressiveness, anxiety, and tremors. Complications from
these side effects can result in cerebral hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, and death.
Prolonged use of the drug, can be the cause of weakened adrenal glands, nervousness,
and insomnia. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, fever, depression,
seizures, and headaches. The low dosage of ephedrine in many ma huang products
are not large enough to produce significant cardiovascular changes in everyone.
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