Definition

A white, odorless substance that comes from certain plants or can be made in a lab. It is used to help treat breathing problems like asthma and allergies.

Example

The doctor prescribed ephedrine to help relieve my asthma symptoms.

Conversation

I heard that ephedrine can help with allergies.

Yeah, it's often used for that, especially during allergy season.

I might need to try it because my allergies are acting up again.

Definitely check with a doctor; they can recommend the right dose.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ephedrine is derived from 'ephedra' (from Greek 'ephedra', meaning a type of plant) and '-ine' (a suffix used in chemistry to denote substances). The word refers to a compound derived from the ephedra plant, which is known for its medicinal properties.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'ephedra' plant, which is where ephedrine comes from, and remember that '-ine' indicates it's a chemical substance derived from that plant.

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