Ephedra

Ephedra, also known as ephedrine or ma huang, is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, with over 4000 years of clinical use as a herbal therapy for asthma, bronchitis, cough with difficulty breathing, joint symptoms, inability to perspire, swelling and pain in the bones.


More recently, it has been used as a folk remedy in China, Germany, Japan, and India for the common cold, bronchial asthma, hay fever and allergy. In contemporary China, ephedra is often a component of a multi-herb cold formula made by boiling ephedra with cinnamon twig, licorice root and almond.


The World Health Organization found the following uses of ephedra preparations to be supported by clinical data: treatment of nasal congestion due to hay fever, allergic rhinitis, common cold, sinusitis, and as a bronchodilator in treatment of bronchial asthma. Aside from respiratory ailments, ephedra is also found in herbal preparations marketed for weight loss, athletic performance and physical and mental stimulation.


In the United States (US), ephedra, when marketed as a supplement or a medicinal ingredient, was commonly called ephedrine. In the US, the supplement was commonly marketed to stimulate weight loss, to boost energy, and to improve athletic performance. It was also found in over-the-counter asthma medicines. However, in April 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the decision to ban ephedrine due to a number of reported deaths and side effects, saying "the data showed little evidence of ephedra's effectiveness, except for short-term weight loss, while confirming that the substance raises blood pressure and stresses the heart."


Ephedra's main active ingredients are stimulants, which act in the body much the same as amphetamines do. According to an explanation by the Rand Corporation, which analyzed the substance, this reveals why it was used in asthma medications. Rand says the stimulants have the ability to relax bronchial tissue, which can result in easing of shortness of breath.


According to Rand's findings, the supplement did promote some short-term weight loss. When it is used for weight loss purposes, it is believed to be most effective when combined with caffeine. The same is believed to be true when the supplement is used for performance enhancement.


Adequate large and wide scale studies have not been conducted on ephedra or the effects that it causes. Many of the allegations against the substance are quite serious, however. These include claims that the supplement causes heart attacks, high blood pressure, and bleeding in the brain.


Rand concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to hold ephedra accountable for the negative claims against it. The corporation did, however, find it noteworthy that many of the serious adverse effects which were blamed on the supplement occurred in healthy people younger than 30.


Ephedra has been used in places such as China and India for centuries, often as a treatment for colds. The controversy that surrounds the supplement leads to another noteworthy point. Generally, in the places where historical use of the supplement has been widely reported, ephedra is not used for the same purposes as it is in the places that report major problems.


How is Ephedra Thought to Work?

The main constituents of ephedra, notably ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are plant alkaloids that are thought to be responsible for the ephedra's medicinal action. These alkaloids are believed to cross the barrier protecting the brain from unwanted chemicals in the blood and mimic activity of the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight") by interacting with various neurotransmitter receptors. Specifically, it is thought to enhance the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine and stimulates alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. The problem with this non-specific stimulation of adrenergic receptors is that while the desired receptors (beta-2) in the lungs are stimulated to open the airways, other types of receptors are also stimulated, including the beta-1 receptors in the heart that increase heart rate and force of contraction, and the alpha-1 receptors that increase blood pressure and decrease circulation to the renal system and other parts of the body.


Epinephrine, which is similar to ephedrine but much more active and short-acting, is a conventional treatment for asthma, but it has been largely replaced by current asthma medications which are able to act more selectively on beta-2 receptors.


Ephedra Benefits

As mentioned above, ephedra was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and other branches of alternative medicine. Ephedra is particularly effective in improving the bronchial tubes or airways, thus it can successfully cure colds, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, asthma and other respiratory disorders. The weight loss applications of ephedra are mainly due to its thermogenic properties. This means, it has the ability to produce a lot of heat inside the body. This heat is beneficial in burning more calories. The increased metabolic rate allows you to transform more calories into energy. This is mainly the reason you manage to burn a few calories even at rest. The thermogenic properties of ephedra were harnessed to produce weight loss pills and diet supplements. Eventually, ephedra extract side effects were discovered, which forced the FDA to ban these pills.


Possible Side Effects of Ephedra

When Ephedra is abused (for weight loss and recreational use) it can lead to amphetamine like side effects: high blood pressure, racing heart beat, nervousness, irritability, headaches, trouble urinating, and insomnia. At higher doses, Ephedra can cause a dramatic increase in blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia. The drug ephedrine is habituating (meaning that you need to take more and more to get the same effect) but it unclear if the whole herb form Ephedra has the same effect.


Other side effects of Ephedra include:



Use of ephedra has also been associated with stroke, seizures, psychosis and death.


The risk of side effects and adverse effects appears to be greater in people with preexisting conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure; heart rate disorders; thyroid disease; hypoglycemia; glaucoma; anxiety; glaucoma; pheochromocytoma; diabetes; kidney disease or kidney stones; mental illness or a history of mental illness; enlarged prostate; cerebral insufficiency and a history of seizures, stroke, or transient ischemic attacks. People with these health conditions should avoid ephedra. People with allergies to ephedra, ephedrine, or pseudoephedrine should also avoid ephedra.


Ephedra is believed to increase the risk of heat stroke, because it increases metabolism and impairs the body's ability to lose heat.


Ephedra shouldn't be taken two weeks before or after surgery. It shouldn't be used by pregnant or nursing women or children. People with anorexia nervosa or bulimia should avoid ephedra because it affects appetite.


Since this drug is a stimulant, it must not be consumed with other stimulants. Thus refrain having this drug with caffeine and other dietary supplements. If you are taking any supplements, consult a doctor before taking ephedra. In case of overdose, ephedra can prove to be fatal. In case of side effects such as anxiety, dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, or trouble while sleeping, chest pain, unusually fast or irregular heartbeat, vomiting, tremor/shakiness, sweating, severe weight loss, difficult or painful urination or stomach pain consult a doctor immediately. These diet pills can also lead to fever, trouble breathing, weakness, confusion, vision problems and slurred speech.

Though ephedra has a long, tried and tested history as traditional medicine, it is equally unsafe if consumed without consultation. Thus, if you are using this herb for weight loss or for any other purpose, do take a trusted opinion of a professional and then proceed.


Conclusion

Ephedra has a long history of traditional and clinical use as a safe herb. Traditionally, it is only used in combination with other herbs.


The supplement industry must standardize labeling and dosage guidelines and avoid the addition of caffeine or aspirin to products containing ephedra.


Consumers should be educated in avoiding the use of ephedra for unproven purposes other than respiratory disorders and seek the guidance of appropriately trained health practitioners when considering the use of ephedra.