ma huang

noun

ˈmä-ˈhwäŋ 

1

: the chiefly dried stems and roots of any of several eastern Asian ephedras (especially Ephedra sinica) that yield ephedrine

2

: ephedra sense 2

Examples of ma huang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ephedra is derived from a Chinese herb called ma huang, and when taken has effects similar to the drug speed. —Emily Anderson Stern, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) máhuáng

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

ma huang

noun

ˈmä-ˈhwäŋ

1

: the chiefly dried stems and roots of any of several eastern Asian ephedras (especially Ephedra sinica) that yield ephedrine

2

: ephedra sense 2

… herbal stimulants such as ma huang (ephedra) can cause dangerously high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.

—William Haskell, Newsweek