Name: Ephedra dvokolosa – ephedra two-spike
Ephedra distachya (Ephedra distachya) ephedra bicolata
A dioecious plant of the ephedra family. A low (5-15 cm tall), very branched, light green bush with a narrowly furrowed and slightly rough stem and branches that depart from the stem singly or in bunches. The leaves are opposite, very small, membranous, fused into two-toothed sheaths. The unisexual flowers are small, collected in spikelets. The fruit is a two-seeded red, spherical, fleshy cone berry. Blooms in June – July.
Spread. The plant occurs on rocky places, sand, especially on the seaside and steppe slopes in the south of the Forest Steppe, in the Steppe and the Crimea.
Procurement and storage . Herbs (Herba Ephedrae) are used to make medicines, which are collected during flowering and fruiting of plants. You can dry in the sun. 20-25% of dry raw material is obtained. The raw materials should be stored in well and tightly closed cans or cans in a dry, dark place.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . The herb ephedra dvv ryvayssoi contains 0.2-0.5% of alkaloids (pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, methylephedrine), tannins, pyrocatechins, resins, ascorbic acid (240-371 mg %) and other substances.
Pharmacological properties and use. Previously, the drug ephedrine was produced from the herb ephedra dvv ryvayssoi. Recently, the plant is used only in folk medicine as a means that excites the nervous system, stimulates blood circulation, increases blood pressure, relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi, increases sweating, lowers body temperature in febrile diseases, and relieves pain. Internally, a decoction or tea from the ephedra herb is used for bronchial asthma, hay fever, allergic dermatoses, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and pulmonary tuberculosis, against coughs with whooping cough, for diseases of the digestive organs (diarrhea, gastric ulcer), rheumatism, gout, to increase blood pressure. pressure, as an antidote for opium, scopolamine and drug poisoning. Locally, a decoction of the herb ephedra dvv is used for itchy dermatoses.
Medicinal forms and applications .
Internally – a decoction of the herb (15-22 g of raw material per 2-3 cups of boiling water, boiled to half) 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day;
brew one teaspoon of the herb with 2 cups of boiling water as tea and drink half a cup 2-3 times a day.
Externally – a decoction of the herb (1 tablespoon of raw material is boiled for 5 minutes in 400 ml of water) to lubricate areas of the skin affected by itchy dermatoses.
Ephedra dvv ryvadissa is a poisonous plant. Overdose is dangerous.