Radix Ephedrae (Mahuanggen)

Naming
Ma Huang Gen (Radix Ephedrae)-Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (Explanation Collection of Materia Medica)

Origin
The roots or rhizomes of perennial push plant Ephedra sinica Stapf or E. intermedia Schrenk etc. A. Mey. of family Ephedra sinica.

Location
Hebei, Shanxi provinces, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China.

Harvest
Collected after the beginning of autumn; cut the root hair, dried and cut into segments.

The actual smell and taste
Not stink, and slightly bitter in flavor.

Best quality
Firm, reddish brown peel with white-yellow cross section.

Processing
Unprocessed.

Property
Sweet, slightly astringent, neutral; lung meridian entered.

Actions
Strengthen superficies to check sweating.

Indications
Spontaneous sweating and night sweat
It is an important herb for astringing lung and strengthening superficies to check sweating, due to its sweet, astringent, neutral properties and lung meridian entered. It can act on superficial and interstice. For spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency, it is combined with qi tonics, superficial-strengthening and sweat-stopping herbs. For instance, it is used with Radix Astragali (Huangqi), Mu Li, and Fu Xiao Mai in Mu Li San from He Ji Ju Fang. For night sweat due to yin deficiency, it is combined with sweating-stopping and yin-tonifying herbs; for instance, it is used with Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi), Radix Paeoniae Alba (Baishaoyao), Fructus Corni (Shanzhuyu), etc. For deficient sweating without stopping due to deficiency of both qi and blood after delivery, it is combined with qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing herbs, or instance, it is used with Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui) and Huang Qi in the formula Ma Huang Gen San from Sheng Hui Fang.

Besides, it could be ground into powder singly or with Mu Li powder and applied on the superficial to treat all kind of sweating syndromes due to deficiency.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~9 g. Appropriate dosage for external use.