Ephedra distachya

Taxobox
name = "Ephedra distachya"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Ephedra distachya" in France
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Gnetophyta
classis = Gnetopsida
ordo = Ephedrales
familia = Ephedraceae
genus = "Ephedra"
species = "E. distachya"
binomial = "Ephedra distachya"
binomial_authority = L. [cite web
url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?15219
title=Ephedra distachya information from NPGS/GRIN
publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
accessdate=2008-04-18
last=
first=]

"Ephedra distachya" (syn. "E. vulgaris") is a shrub in the family Ephedraceae, about 25 cm to 50 cm high, that grows in southern Europe and parts of western and central Asia. Its local names include "somlatha".

Uses

It 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, the salt of 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. [cite web
url=http://www.giftpflanzen.com/ephedra_distachya.html
title=Meerträubel (Ephedra distachya) im GIFTPFLANZEN.COMpendium - www.giftpflanzen.com
publisher=www.giftpflanzen.com
accessdate=2008-04-18
last=
first=]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.conifers.org/ep/ep/distachya.htm Gymnosperm Database: "Ephedra distachya"]