Ma Huang tea, made from the Ma Huang plant, has been used in Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to treat asthma, hay fever, and coughs. It contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which act as decongestants, appetite suppressants, and can increase blood pressure. The tea can also be used as a diaphoretic and weight loss supplement. However, it should only be consumed under medical supervision and is banned in the US due to potential dangers.
Ma Huang tea is made from the twigs and roots of the Ma Huang plant, also known as Ephedra sinica. This plant has been used in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia as a treatment for asthma for approximately 5,000 years. Tea made from the twigs has been found to be especially beneficial in cases of hay fever, chills, and chesty coughs. The herbal supplement has also become popular as a diet aid and energy booster. The roots and twigs contain pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, which are stimulants effective as decongestants, appetite suppressants, and as a treatment for hypotension.
The active compounds in ma huang tea, the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephdrine, have thermogenic and stimulant properties. Thermogenic chemicals are helpful because they stimulate the body’s metabolism and help generate heat, which is why the tea can be so effective in relieving symptoms of the common cold or flu. Stimulants are chemicals that have a psychoactive effect on the body, giving the person who ingested them a feeling of increased physical and mental capacity.
This tea has also been used as a treatment for hypotension. Hypotension means that a person’s blood pressure is abnormally low. If such a patient ingests ma huang tea, the blood vessels will constrict, which can help increase blood pressure. The patient’s heart rate will also increase.
The supplement can also be used as a diaphoretic. Diaphoresis is excessive sweating caused by a medication, medical procedure, or shock. Diaphoretics are often used to induce sweating in a patient, to help the body expel potentially harmful toxins.
The stimulant properties of ma huang tea have made it beneficial for some people who want to use it as a weight loss supplement. Some find that the tea stimulates their metabolism, as well as giving them extra energy throughout the day. Studies have shown that ma huang can help with weight loss, but whether or not it can achieve lasting weight loss has not been proven.
For patients suffering from asthma, bronchitis and other similar conditions, the tea can be very beneficial. It can help improve breathing by expanding the bronchi, or airways, in the lungs. The decongestant properties of this substance can also aid in breathing by helping to clear blocked nasal and sinus passages.
Ma huang tea should only be consumed under the supervision of a healthcare professional, and is more commonly known as ephedra in the United States. Dosage instructions can vary widely across different brands of tea, because ma huang is not standardized. Patients suffering from hypertension, coronary problems, or glaucoma should avoid any supplements that contain ephedra. In 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of supplements containing ephedra, because it can be dangerous when taken without medical supervision.
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