Editing Ephedrine (section)

===Asia===
Ephedrine in its natural form, known as [[Ephedra (plant)|''máhuáng'']] (麻黄) in [[traditional Chinese medicine]], has been documented in China since the [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC – 220 AD) as an [[Asthma|antiasthmatic]] and stimulant.<ref name="principles">{{cite book| vauthors = Levy WO, Kalidas K | veditors = Miller NS |title=Principles of Addictions and the Law: Applications in Forensic, Mental Health, and Medical Practice|date=26 February 2010|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-496736-6|pages=307–308}}</ref> In traditional Chinese medicine, ''máhuáng'' has been used as a treatment for asthma and bronchitis for centuries.<ref name=Ford>{{cite book | veditors = Ford MD, Delaney KA, Ling LJ, Erickson T | title = Clinical Toxicology | location = Philadelphia | publisher = WB Saunders | date = 2001 | isbn = 0-7216-5485-1}}</ref>

In 1885, the chemical synthesis of ephedrine was first accomplished by Japanese [[organic chemist]] [[Nagai Nagayoshi]] based on his research on [[Japanese traditional medicine|traditional Japanese]] and [[Chinese herbology|Chinese herbal medicines]].

The industrial manufacture of ephedrine in China began in the 1920s, when [[Merck & Co.|Merck]] began marketing and selling the drug as ephetonin. Ephedrine exports from China to the West grew from 4 to 216 tonnes between 1926 and 1928.<ref name="Dikotter">{{cite book | vauthors = Dikotter F, Laamann LP |title= Narcotic Culture: A History of Drugs in China |date=16 April 2004 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-14905-9 |page= 199 }}</ref>