麻黄在我国分布甚广,种类亦多。生长在云南的有丽江麻黄(Ephedra likiangensis Florin)及云南麻黄(Ephedra saxatilis Royle var.mairei Florin)二种。麻黄的主要成分为麻黄硷(ephedrine)。此外尚有右旋假麻黄硷(α-ψ-ephedrine)及左旋假麻黄硷(ι-ψ-ephedrine)。产于我国华北的麻黄(E.sinica Stapf.)及木賊麻黄(E.equisetina Bunge)含总生物硷可达1.3～1.5%,其中麻黄硷約占80～90%。但不是所有麻黃都含生物硷,如种植在美洲和苏联中部的某些种麻黄则不含麻黄硷及假麻黄硷,也有 Ephedra has been widely distributed in China and has many types. There are two species of Ephedra likiangensis Florin and Ephedra saxatilis Royle var.mairei Florin in Yunnan. The main ingredient of ephedra is ephedrine. There are also α-ψ-ephedrine and ι-ψ-ephedrine. E. sinica Stapf. and E. equisetina Bunge, which are produced in North China, contain a total of 1.3-1.5% of total biological enthalpies, of which about 80%-90% are ephedrine. However, not all ephedra contain biological mites. For example, some species of ephedra grown in the Americas and central Soviet Union do not contain ephedra and pseudoephedrine, but also