These plants have hardly changed in the past 100 million years, and are thought to be relics of an ancient flora.

[4] Ephedra distachya is used to relieve acute muscular and rheumatic pains (when it is called teamsters' tea), as a stimulant, and in the cardio tonics in Ayurveda.

[citation needed] It is sometimes identified with the legendary drug soma, as described in the Avesta and the Rig Veda, the respective ancient sacred texts of the Zoroastrian and Hindu faiths.

[5] Although Ephedra has many benefits, it has side effects including insomnia and a fast heart rate.

HABITATS WITH SEA GRAPE (EPHEDRA DISTACHYA) ON THE DUNES OF LETEA (DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA)/Lebensräume mit Meerträubchen (Ephedra distachya) auf den Dünen von Letea (Donau-Delta, Rumänien)/Habitatele cu Ephedra distachya de pe dunele de la Letea (Delta Dunarii, România).