Release exterior
Ma Huang
麻黄
Ephedra
Ephedra sinica
Strongly releases the surface. A regulated plant, not a home stimulant.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Warm · Acrid, Bitter
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Classically the lead herb for a wind-cold pattern with no sweat, chills, and a tight surface. Also appears in old formulas for wheezing. Modern products that concentrate ephedrine have caused serious harm. The plant is restricted in many places.
Common pairings
- Gui Zhi 桂枝
Together they are the teaching pair for a cold surface that has not yet opened, the idea behind Ma Huang Tang. Study only.
- Wu Wei Zi 五味子
Paired when a text wants to open the lung and also hold a cough, so the dispersing herb is not left alone.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing. Not for pregnancy, high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, or long-term use. Do not buy it as a weight-loss or sports product.
Points with a similar aim
Broken Sequence
Wrist point for the nape, a fresh cold, and the Ren vessel.
Use caution
Union Valley
The classic hand point for head, face, and the start of a cold.
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy
Calm Dyspnea
Extra point beside Du14. Name means calm wheezing. Not asthma treatment.
Use caution