20 Ephedra Sinica Seeds, "Ma Huang," TCM Herb; Mongolia
Massive 2020 crop failure due to DROUGHT! Climate Change is real and dangerous. Minimal leftovers from the previous year crop.
Ephedra sinica plant seeds, aka 'Ma Huang.' An important Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) herb, similar to coffee or caffeine in its effects, but strong enough that the FDA recently banned it as an ingredient in food and/or supplements. Unscientific and prejudicial response, as caffeine is responsible for many more annual deaths in the world (perhaps as many as 1,000 annual USA deaths alone) than ephedra and it can be found on every corner in America. The main alkaloid found in its stems only--ephedrine--is both a stimulant and is medicinal for asthma and many bronchial issues. Grow your own medicine. (I only sell seeds, not any other ephedra plant parts.)
Seeds are for planting only! >~~~~~Do NOT EAT these SEEDS! ~~~~< The stimulant is ONLY found in the stems of the plant. The seeds do NOT contain ephedrine or any other drug.
Plant Rant: Eating my seeds is ignorant and stupid, so just don't do it! Don't piss off a shaman or the Plant Spirits. Do not write me later and complain that you destroyed these rare seeds by eating them, and felt nothing, and it did not help your asthma, because you are really too lazy to read or research the truth and you act on false assumptions. I will not be nice to you, or to any other ignorant plant seed killers who do this sort of thing. I hear this too often, and the Plant Spirits do not like it, and then I see it in my dreams. If you want to waste your money, just send your cash to me by mail. No kidding. No reason to waste seeds on you that are, at best, a placebo when eaten. Or let me send you dill seeds instead. At least that will freshen your breath. I would like to tell you that eating these ephedra seeds will cause erectile dysfunction, immediate balding, permanent sterility, and bright green gangrene lips, but we deal in honesty here, so, but, the seed eaters can believe it anyway!... Curses upon seed eaters! May acorns shower your car with dents, stones ding your windshield, rains seep in through unseen cracks, and may huge thunderbirds poop upon your car until it looks like a slimy zebra.
- TRUTH: Ephedra seeds do NOT contain any ephedrine alkaloids or other stimulants.
Ephedra is an evergreen perennial shrub, native to China. (A person in Tunisia sent me photos of ephedra growing wild all over there.) Grows only about a foot tall. It doesn't have 'normal' leaves; instead it produces rigid, blue-green branches to form an ever-widening mat. Looks more like a marsh reed than a bush. The plant normally flowers in spring, perhaps again in fall in some climates. Both male and female plants must be grown if you want to fertilize the flowers for seeds. Plant Rant 2: No, I cannot tell which seeds are male and which sexy seeds are female, so stop asking. (I am not making that up; People do ask.) I may be a plant whisperer, but they don't tell me this one is called Billy Bob and this one is named Billy Jean. Ephedra seeds do not have any sexual parts on them, like I can see the macho seed's pointy penis swinging in a balmy breeze, or another who's a mother with bigly, bouncy boobs in a teeny-bikini and sipping a martini. Nope. Nada. Just figure half will be one gender, and so on. Nature balances naturally.
Let's recap:
- Lesson 1: Do not eat these seeds. They will not get you high at all. Don't be dumb.
- Lesson 2: Nobody can 'sex' ephedra seeds. They're just seeds. Don't be dumber.
- Lesson 3: Grow them like a cactus in sandy soil; here's how:
Ephedra sinica should be planted in the spring in dry locations with sandy, well-drained soil. It thrives in ordinary loamy or sandy soil and does very well in a loose rocky soil with full sun and little water. It is most often propagated by division of the clumps in spring, with the seeds sown in a light sandy soil in early spring. Grow like a cactus. Tolerates frost and snow. Likes dry sand. The seed is fairly easy to germinate in a warm, sandy medium. Strew the seed on surface of very sandy potting soil (50% sand) and cover 1/4 inch deep with more of the same potting soil mix. Tamp securely and keep evenly moist until germination, which in the greenhouse or under propagation lights should take about 11-14 days minimum. The best medium for sprouts is to spread about four inches of sand on the surface, then plant the ma-huang seedlings through the sand, with its roots down in the soil and sand all around the crown. This excellent drainage and the reflection of the sun up onto the plant will greatly improve the health, growth and survival of Ma-huang. Do not give up. After a first try, let seeds dry, then try watering again.
Seeds are imported from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. Germination rate at source was reported at 85% and confirmed by an independent trial here in the USA. Some customers report only getting 50%, Some only 10%, but they are likely not using ideal germination methods. Over 100 seeds per gram; about 3,000 seeds per ounce.
One of my bestsellers! Also one of my personal sacred plants.
Germination instructions under the 'Plant Lore' pull down menu on the Ephedra page.
Germination Instructions:
1.) Barely cover seeds in slightly damp, airy, loose soil mix; half sand/half cactus mix is best
2.) Use a humidity dome if possible
3.) Keep the environment humid and warm (75-80 degrees)
4.) Place in a bright area, with filtered to full light
5.) Germination in about 1-2 weeks, with stragglers up to one month later.
Plant Care:
- Treat similar to a cactus; dry and warm. Lightly water once or twice a week. Well-drained sandy soil is best. Tolerates frost.
Customer Feedback, 10-17-18:
I was so impressed by my first 500 E. sinica seeds (70%+ germination rate). I used a heating pad and complete darkness. It took less than a week to get green sprouts.
-Kirk