The source is from the herbaceous stem of Ephedra sinica stapf, Eintermedia schrenk et C. A. Mey, and E. equisetina Bunge, family Ephedraceae. The medicinal material is collected in autumn, dried in shade and cut into pieces. Its commonly used form is crude one or the one prepared with honey.

Medicinal Properties:
Pungent and slightly bitter in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the lung and bladder meridians.

Actions:
Induce sweating to relieve superficies disperse the lung to relieve asthma and promote diuresis to subside edema.

Application
It is used for superficial syndrome due to wind and cold. Since the medicinal herb can strongly promote sweating, it is often used for superficial sthenia-syndrome due to wind and cold, which is manifested as asthma, anhidrosis, headache, cough and dyspnea, stuffy nose, aversion to cold, fever, chest pain, floating and tight pulse.

For sthenia-syndromes with cough and dyspnea. It is indicated for all syndromes such as cough and dyspnea due to stagnation of lung-qi, or cold, heat, phlegm or retention of fluids whether they have superficial syndrome or not.