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Concept
Ephedra distachya
Summary
Ephedra distachya is a shrub in the family Ephedraceae that stands about 25 cm to 50 cm high. The shrub grows in many parts of the world, including southern and central Europe and western and central Asia. Its local names include somlatha.
Ephedra distachya subsp. distachya – central + southern Europe, southwestern + central Asia
Ephedra distachya subsp. helvetica (C.A.Mey.) Asch. & Graebn. – Switzerland, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria
Ephedra is part of a group of plants called ‘gnetophytes’. These plants have hardly changed in the past 100 million years, and are thought to be relics of an ancient flora. The leaves of Ephedra are tiny and scale-like. Gnetophyte leaves evolved independently from leaves in flowering plants. Ephedra produces the alkaloid ephedrine, which has been shown to interfere with insect thermoregulation and may also have effects on insect neurotransmitters. This may be the method by which the plant deters insect herbivores.
Ephedra (medicine)
Ephedra distachya is used to relieve acute muscular and rheumatic pains (when it is called teamsters' tea), as a stimulant, and in the cardio tonics in Ayurveda. It is sometimes identified with the legendary drug soma, as described in the Avesta and the Rig Veda, the respective ancient sacred texts of the Zoroastrian and Hindu faiths.
Ephedrine, an alkaloid, is obtained from its dried branches and is used as a stimulant, often to control asthma. It was isolated from the plant by Nagayoshi Nagai in 1885. All parts of the plant contain up to 3% ephedrine.
Although Ephedra has many benefits, side effects include insomnia and a fast heart rate.
Image:Illustration Ephedra distachya0.jpg|Botanical illustration.
Image:Ephedra distachya (male plant in bloom).jpg|Male plant in bloom.
Image:Ephedra distachya (male flowers) 2.jpg|Pollen cones.
Image:Ephedra distachya (female flowers).jpg|Female cones.
Image:Ephedra distachya (cones) 2011 3.jpg|Ripe cones with seeds.
Image:Ephedra distachya berries 2.jpg|Female plant with ripe cones.
Image:Ephedra distachya (rhizome) 2011 1.
Official source
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