Longmen Ephedra

Longmen Ephedra

　　　　Produced in Hejin, Shanxi, it grows on slopes and hilly areas, mainly in Chaijia Township, Hejin City. Longmen Ephedra is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine in the region. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, the famous general Yu Chijingde hung upside down from the Golden Hook on Longmen Mountain to pick ephedra for the Tang Emperor, who was cured of his illness, hence the name "Golden Hook Upside-Down Ephedra." Longmen Ephedra plants are tall with hollow stems, green on the outside and red inside, with thin skin and thick flesh, and high alkaloid content. The stem is used medicinally, with a mild nature and a taste that is sweet with a hint of bitterness. It functions to induce sweating and release the exterior, ventilate the lungs, and calm wheezing. It can treat symptoms such as wind-cold invasion, chills and fever, coughing and wheezing, and edema. The root is also used medicinally, with a neutral nature and sweet taste, and can treat spontaneous sweating and night sweats.