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Ephedra distachya
Contains Ephedrine, an E. sinica alternative!
Ezekiel 47:12 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."
Nicknames: The name "Mormon tea" is often thrown around loosely in reference to Ephedra period, however I'm unsure if each individual species has a different nickname. It doesn't appear to be the case.
Sourcing: Again, there are a total of three species of Ephedra coming out of China[3], all of which produce ephedrine, and they're not being given different names that I'm aware of. Sourcing is important when you're looking to grow something effective. I suggest buying seeds and plants from multiple sources, so as to wind up with multiple species(varying genetics.)
Classification: Stimulant; Expectorant;
Plant Family: Ephedraceae;[2] Genus: Ephedra;[2] Species: E. distachya;[2]
Ephedrine variation among different species: According to one scholarly source, a total of three species have been identified that are being sold out of China where Ephedra is native, E. distachya being one of the three, E sinica, and E. equisetina.[3] All three produce ephedrine and pseudoephedrine[4] The source states: "Almost all E. distachya contained only pseudoephedrine (1.25–1.59% of dry weight, %DW)"[4], and that: "E. equisetina contained from 1.31 to 2.05%DW ephedrine and from 1.29 to 2.80%DW pseudoephedrine."[4] This means that Ephedra equisetina is the more potent alternative, having more alkaloid that E. distachya!
Ethnobotany: Ephedra grows wild in China, and has been used there for thousands of years as a medicine and recreational treat.[5][6] Chinese healers use it for ailments related to the respiratory system.[5][6] Most of the strains that grow in the United States are not active(do not produce ephedrine, or only contain trace amounts of the medicine).[5][6] Sourcing is important if you want the real deal, so make sure you buy your seeds from a legit vendor. I suggest shopping around. It's been used medicinally for caughs, asthma, bronchitis, etc.. The stems are used to treat fevers in China.[5][6] It's very important to know that the Ephedra that grows in the USA is not the same as the stuff that comes from China, and the stuff from China is the real deal.
Warnings: While Ephedra does have medicinal benefits, it can also be dangerous for someone with a heart condition. It may cause side efffects such as insomnia and a fast heart rate.
Mixes well with: Mullein shares a lot of the same properties which make it good for the respiratory system, without the narcotic aspect of it. Lemon balm on the other hand, is a nootropic, being something that's good for mental function.[7] This would make it synergize well with Ephedra.
OG Observations: It seems the socialist want the globel economy put to an end. Between social media shadow bans, and businesses being sabotaged by gangs of haters and organized criminals, it is very difficult for oppressed merchants to network with other entrepaneurs anymore, at least to the extent that they used to be able to. I worry about people being able to source rare plants like this for the market. This project is meant to help inspire new products for sale in the west. I'm moulding the industry. I haven't seen anyone selling these two strains yet, but hope to. Remember that Ethnobotany and phytochemistry are directly married to one another, and it is the ethnobotanist and ethnobotanical vendors who make it possible for researchers to get their hands on these specimens for research, research that goes into the future production of new medicines.[5][6] This is why the socialist went after Edens Ethnobotanicals, because he provided researchers with rare specimens for their studies, and they want to oppress medicine.
What is Phytochemistry? What are Phytochemicals? Phytochemistry is how we know that Ephedra distachya produces the drug/medicine ephedrine. It's the branch of chemistry that deals with studying the pharmacology of plants, by isolating out their active chemical principles, and then studying them for their medicinal value. Phytochemist study phytochemicals, which are medicines created by plants. Some of the most common phytochemicals known to man include: CBD, THC, Morphine, Melatonin, Caffeine, etc.
Phytochemicals: Ephedra distachya produces ephedrine![3][5] This is a big deal because ethnobotanical vendors and scholars sometimes are always looking for new active strains to research. One study gives us a solid understanding on the difference in potency between the two, however it may be misleading as the percentages of constituents may have been higher if the plant was harvested at a different time, or from a different location.. The study states: "E. distachya we have analyzed and found similar to E. sinica in containing both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in the proportion of about four to one, but the total alkaloid we found to. be less than Ephedra sinica by about 30 per cent."[3] So they found 30% less total alkaloid in the E. distachya strain, but it was still present. Most of the varieties growing in the US have no Ephedrine, or only trace amounts if you're lucky.
Pharmacological / Medicinal Properties: It shares the same basic pharmacology as Ephedra sinica, which I wrote an entire and thorough blog on. To summarize, it has a stimulant effect on the central nervous system[5], dialates bronchial passages, and decreases congestion.[5] Ephedra in general, has been used clinically for asthma[5] It stimulates neurons in the limbic system.[8] The properties of ephedrine are similar to adrenaline and tyramine.[8]
Related Ethnobotanicals: Ephedra sinica, E. dahurica; E. pseudodistachya; E. strobilacea; E. sarcocarpa; E. transitoria; E. equisetina;
More HerbsPedia blogs: Frankincense(Boswelia), Olmedioperebea sclerophylla, Cowage(Mucuna pruriens), Lemon Balm(Melissa officinalis), Opium Poppy(Papaver somniferum), Argyreia nervosa(produces a precursor to LSD)
Buy Ephedra distachya Here!
Academic citations:
[3] Liu, J. C., and B. E. Read. "Differential characters of three common Chinese species of ephedra." The Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (1912) 18.4 (1929): 328-334.
[4] Minami, Motoyasu, et al. "Environmental and soil characteristics in Ephedra habitats of Uzbekistan." Journal of natural medicines 75 (2021): 246-258.
[7] Tomen, David. "Lemon Balm."
[8] [7] Lee, Michael R. "The history of Ephedra (ma-huang)." JR Coll Physicians Edinb 41.1 (2011): 78-84.
[5] Swerdlow, Joel L. Nature’s Medicine : Plants That Heal. Washington, D.C., National Geographic Society, 2000.
[6] Robbers, James E, et al. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
Encyclopedia Sources:
[2] Wikipedia contributors, "Ephedra distachya," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra_distachya (accessed December 12, 2024).
Other resources:
M.A.P.S. Ethnobotanical Studies By Scholars
PubChem - pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov