Ephedra monosperma by Richard Ellis Via Flickr: Ephedra monosperma is a gymnosperm native to Asia. Like many plants in this family, it produces ephedrine which has been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine for centuries. The pharmacological effect of Ephedra medicine include: constriction of peripheral blood vessels, increase in heart rate, elevation of blood pressure and bronchodilation. Ephedrine had been commonly found in many herbal medications. There is a common misconception that somehow herbal medications are safe because they are natural. Apparently these folks have never heard of poisonous plants. Ephedrine herbal products are now banned in U.S.A since 1994 for causing various and serious adverse effects, such as headache, insomnia, stroke, arrhythmias, heart attack, psychosis, heart palpitations, cardiac arrest and even death. #Ephedramonosperma #Ephedra #monosperma #CUgreenhouse #botany
