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Ephedra has been banned in the United States since 2004. The FDA determined that the herb posed an unreasonable risk to the people who used it. Ephedra was used in many dietary and energy supplements. It caused heart palpitations, tremors, increased blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and insomnia.
Ephedra is a shrub plant found in central Asia and other parts of the world. The green parts of the plants are dried to create ephedrine medicines.
The primary ingredient of ephedra causes powerful stimulation to the nervous system and heart. The ban does not pertain to traditional Chinese remedies and conventional foods like herbal teas. Products that contain chemically-synthesized ephedrine for short term treatment of illnesses like asthma, bronchitis and allergies are also not affected by the ban.
In combination with caffeine, ephedra was successful in causing weight loss in most people who took it. Since 1993, however, there were more than 16,000 reports of serious toxic reaction and more than 100 deaths due to ephedra.
- Ma Huang
- Mormon Tea
- Mexican Tea
- epitonin
- sinica
Products like Bitter Orange and Green Tea can also produce the same effects, and should be used with caution.
- hypertension (increased blood pressure)
- palpitations
- neuropathy, which is nerve damage
- myopathy, which is muscle damage
- psychosis
- stroke
- memory loss
- insomnia
- nervousness
- tremors
- seizures
- heart attack
- death