20 Ephedra Sinica Seeds, "Ma Huang," TCM Herb; Mongolia
Massive 2020 crop failure due to DROUGHT! Minimal leftovers from the previous 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. 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 any other ignorant plant seed killers who do this sort of thing. I hear this way 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 and 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, and birds poop upon it too.
- NOTE: Ephedra seeds do NOT contain any ephedrine alkaloids or other stimulants.
E. sinica is an evergreen perennial shrub, native to the mountains of Northern China and most of Mongolia. (A contact in Tunisia sent me photos of ephedra growing wild all over.) 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 hot deserts. Both male and female plants must be grown if you want to fertilize the flowers for seeds. No, I cannot tell which seeds are male and which sexy seeds are female, so stop asking. I am not making that up. People ask. I may be a plant whisperer, but ephedra seeds do not have sexual parts on them, like I can see a seed's little penis or something hanging in the breeze. Or that seed is called Billy and this one is named Amanda. Nope. Just figure half will be one gender, and so on. Nature balances.
- Lesson 1: Do not eat the seeds. They will not get you high. Don't be dumb.
- Lesson 2: Nobody can sex ephedra seeds. They're just seeds. Don't be dumb.
- Lesson 3: Grow them like a cactus in sandy soil; here's how:
Ephedra 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 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 days. The best preparation is to spread about four inches of sand on the surface, then plant the ma-huang sprouts 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%, 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