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MA HUANG (EPHEDRA) |
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Introduction Ephedra, also called ma huang, epitonin and sida cordifolia, contains stimulants known chemically as ephedrine. The source of ephedra is a family of shrubs. It is found in a Chinese herb called ma huang, and it is totally unregulated in most places. Also known Mormon tea or Brigham tea, this Chinese herb has been used for over 2000 years. Ephedrine was used during the 1970's and 1980's in a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Uses included the treatment of asthma, nasal congestion and weight loss. Although somewhat effective for these conditions ephedrine had side effects that could be dangerous for some patients. Far safer and more effective medications, called selective beta-agonists, were developed for the treatment of asthma and largely replaced ephedrine for treatment of asthma by the early 1980's. Likewise, the development of non-sedating antihistamines and topical nasal steroid sprays in the mid to late 1980's greatly decreased the use of OTC products for severe allergic rhinitis. Serious problems were reported with the misuse of ephedrine as a weight loss pill during this period. (Amphetamines, ephedrine's more potent chemical cousin, had run into many problems as an energy boosting and weight loss aid and been banned years earlier.) The final straw in OTC ephedrine products coincided with the explosion of methamphetamine production and usage in the mid to late 1980's. When it was determined that the bulk of ephedrine manufactured was going to the production of illegal methamphetamine ephedrine sale was banned. It should be noted that an alternative would have been to make ephedrine a prescription or controlled substance whose sale and production could be closely monitored. The most likely reason this did not happen was ephedrine would not have had much of a market as a prescription medication. As previously discussed, more effective and safer medications were already available for almost all conditions that ephedrine treated. Ephedra resurfaced in a variety of forms in the 1990's. Marketed as a dietary supplement, not a drug, Ma Huang reintroduced ephedrine to the general public. Ephedrine was not disclosed as the active ingredient in most Ma Huang preparations. Products containing ephedrine were marketed for weight loss (an herbal alternative to Fen-Phen), as legal alternatives to street drugs (herbal ecstasy), as antidepressants, and as athletic/ body building enhancers. Rick Demont was a 16 year old swimmer who was stripped of his gold medal at the 1972 Olympics after testing positive for unacceptable levels of ephedrine. Rick did use an ephedrine containing asthma medication at the time. Common Uses
At best you can expect temporary suppression of appetite, a racing heart, and clear nasal passages and lungs. Dosage
Side Effects
To date, ephedra has been directly associated with eighteen deaths and more than 800 nonfatal "adverse events." Conditions where Ephedra should not be taken
Bottom line The risk of ephedrine-containing compounds currently, as well as in the past, outweighs benefits. It is not that ephedrine does not work- it does. The problem is ephedrine does not work well enough to justify the potentially serious risks such as heart attack, stroke, or drug abuse. Don't fall for the "all-natural" sales pitch. Ephedra's active ingredient is still a drug, and shouldn't be used as a weight loss aid or energy booster. There are safer and more effective medications for virtually every condition ephedrine claims to treat with the possible exception of stimulant activity. We realize that many prescription medications are expensive. "Herbal ephedra" sold by various companies can cost up to $150 for a single month supply rivaling the most expensive prescriptions. We believe that your life and health are precious! Resources
Doctors Corner INternet Group, Inc. 1997-2004
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