Editing Ephedra distachya (section)

==Uses==
{{Main|Ephedra (medicine)}}
''Ephedra distachya'' is used to relieve acute muscular and [[rheumatic]] pains (when it is called ''[[teamster]]s' [[tea]]''), as a stimulant, and in the cardio tonics in [[Ayurveda]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} It is sometimes identified with the legendary drug [[soma (drink)|soma]], as described in the [[Avesta]] and the [[Rig Veda]], the respective ancient sacred texts of the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] and [[Hinduism|Hindu]] faiths.

[[Ephedrine]], an [[alkaloid]], is obtained from its dried branches and is used as a [[stimulant]], often to control [[asthma]]. It was isolated from the plant by [[Nagayoshi Nagai]] in 1885.  All parts of the plant contain up to 3% ephedrine.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.giftpflanzen.com/ephedra_distachya.html
|title=Meerträubel (Ephedra distachya) im GIFTPFLANZEN.COMpendium - www.giftpflanzen.com
|publisher=www.giftpflanzen.com
|accessdate=2008-04-18
|last=
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}}
</ref>