Ephedra became a somewhat popular weight-loss supplement in the late 20th century and early 21st century, but serious safety concerns led to a ban of the herbal remedy’s sale in several countries, including the United States. Ephedra has been linked to strokes, heart attacks and even deaths. Talk with your doctor about these dangers before you take any remedy or supplement containing ephedra.
History
Also called ma huang, the ephedra plant has been used for medicinal purposes in China for thousands of years, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Chinese herbalists used ephedra as a short-term treatment for respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, water retention, narcolepsy and eczema, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Isolated from ephedra, ephedrine became an asthma medication in the United States and Europe, and pseudoephedrine became Sudafed-brand decongestant.
Benefits
Although ephedra is sometimes recommended as a weight-loss aid, it’s also used to treat asthma and sexual dysfunction in women. People have used ephedra to increase energy and athletic performance, as well as to treat bronchitis, coughs, allergies, sinusitis and congestion, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Function
The alkaloid ephedrine in ephedra stimulates the central nervous system, which is thought to suppress appetite and promote weight loss, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Pseudoephedrine also appears to stimulate the nervous system, either directly or indirectly. These alkaloids in ephedra also constrict the blood vessels, which can produce dangerous effects like stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular events.
Scientific Evidence
A double-blind clinical trial involving 180 overweight people found that taking 20mg of ephedrine along with 200mg of caffeine substantially increased weight loss over the course of six months, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The trial was published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders in 1992. A smaller double-blind clinical trial published in the same journal in 2001 also found that ephedra enhanced weight loss. Few other clinical trials have been conducted on ephedra’s efficacy, but several additional studies have investigated the herb’s safety.
Dangers
Ephedra poses serious health risks, which is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned ephedra products from being sold. Taking ephedra can cause side effects like headache, tremor, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, irritability, urinary problems and vomiting. More deadly side effects include elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate, seizures, addiction or dependency, stroke, chest pain, heart attack and death. Ephedra can cause severe liver inflammation, a form of kidney stones and nervous-system toxicity. You shouldn’t take ephedra if you have anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, prostate conditions, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, angina, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, intermittent claudication, diabetes, hepatitis, myocarditis, vasculitis, kidney problems or nervous system diseases. Ephedra can worsen these conditions. You shouldn’t take ephedra if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding either, and the herb isn’t safe for children. Ephedra could have dangerous interactions with certain medications, including monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, stimulant drugs, amphetamines or their derivatives, aspirin, blood-thinning medications, clonidine and other blood-pressure drugs, narcotics, sedatives, digoxin and the asthma drug theophylline.
Member Comments