Ephedra Vulgaris

It is native to Northern China and Mongolia. It is an evergreen shrub, growing up to 50cm with long narrow sprawling stems and tiny leaves. It is also found in alpine regions of Himalayas, Kashmir to Sikkim at high altitudes, Lahul, Spiti and Ledakh. It contains ephedrine, pseudo ephedrine; total alkaloid content may be as high as 2.8%. They are known broncho-dilators.

A homoeopathic tincture is made from the stem of the plant. It is covered by both: Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India and German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia. It was proved by Dr. B. H. Mouravow. It has been clinically verified by CCRH in multiple centres and published in Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy Vol. 3, No. 3, July-September 2009. A combined material medica of this new clinical verification and existing data is given below:

Mind

Patient may have extreme apathy, anxiety and restlessness.

Vertigo

Tendency of falling due to vertigo.

Head

Violent headache esp. forehead, nausea, general weakness; slow pulse. Rusting type of pain towards evening. Left sided hemicrania with numbness of entire left arm.

Eyes

Heavy eyes, starting from their orbits, as if pushed out, pain in the eye (after second dose on third day. On fifth day exophthalmos was increased). Discharge from eyes, thick; thin white aggravation in morning. Inflammation of conjunctiva. Itching in eyes. Lachrymation. Redness of eye. Exophthalmos.

Nose

Nose discharge thin watery. Sneezing.

Throat

Throat irritation pain in throat on swallowing.

Stomach

Appetite diminished. Nausea during headache.

Abdomen

Dull pain in region of spleen.

Respiration

Respiration difficult worse from excessive perspiration, exertion. Difficult respiration with heaviness of eye and swelling of face. Tight and heaviness of the chest left side accompanied by restlessness.

Urinary Organs

From early morning great fatigue, retention of the urine (fourth day).

Heart.

Abatement of pulse (from 68 to 62 in one case), notwith standing increased rapidity of action of heart. Strong heart-beat with weakening of pulse; respiration accelerated. Palpitation of heart with anxiety, worse from exertion, with perspiration.

Neck and Back

Stiffness of neck (with exophthalmos). Stiffness of neck and backward pulling of all the body on turning head and a dull pain in region of spleen.

Extremities

Towards evening heaviness in all the limbs. Numbness and swelling of the ankle. Numbness of entire left arm, with left side hemicrania. Numbness with trebling of extremities, worse in morning.

Skin

Wart

Generalities

General weakness; from early morning great fatigue. Enlarged thyroid gland with painless suffocation. Darkness before eye with thyroid inflammation. Swelling of thyroid hard painful on pressure. Amaemia

Sleep

Longing for sleep.

References

J. H. Clarke, Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Reprint Edition 1992, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
Ephedra vulgaris–A Multicentric Clinical Verification Study conducted by CCRH, Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy Vol. 3, No. 3, July-September 20
Boericke William. Boericke’s New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory, 3rd revised and augmented edition, based on ninth edition; New Delhi, B. Jain Publishers (P) ltd; 2007, p. 413.