Mau Huang for Weight Loss

Ma huang, which is also referred to as ephedra, emerged in the United States in the 1990s as a weight loss aid. It should be noted that although studies have confirmed that it does in fact encourage moderate short-term weight loss, ma huang has been reported to cause serious, even fatal, side effects such as heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeats and sudden death. Due to these reports, in April 2004, the FDA placed a ban on ma huang products in the United States.

Ma Huang Basics

The parts of the ma huang plant used in supplements are the stems and leaves and ma huang is sold in dried extract as well as powdered form. According to "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," the dried extracts are medicinally more potent then ma huang powders because they contain a higher concentration of the active ingredients -- ephedrine, pseudoephedrinem and phenylpropanolamine. The ephedrine and pseudoephedrine found in ma huang supplements stimulate the central nervous system both directly and indirectly; they also increase systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The exact mechanism of action when it comes to ma huang and weight loss is not known, however, ma huang appears to increase thermogenesis, which means that it raises your body's temperature, metabolism and energy output.

Ma Huang and Kola Nut for Weight Loss

The May 2002 edition of "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" examined the effects of a daily intake of 90 mg of ma huang combined with 192 mg of kola nut, in 167 obese individuals. At the end of the six month placebo controlled study, the obese individuals given the ma huang/kola nut combination supplement experienced a notably higher decrease in body weight and body fat levels then the placebo group. There were no significant adverse events caused by ma huang in this particular study, however, a few individuals reported side effects such as dry mouth, heartburn and insomnia.

Meta-analysis of Ma Huang for Weight Loss

The March 2003 edition of "Journal of American Medical Association" conducted a meta-analysis of multiple clinical studies done on the effects of ma huang supplements on weight loss. The journal reported that ma huang supplements appear to promote short-term weight loss and studies found that individuals who took the ma huang experienced an average of approximately 0.9 kg of weight loss more than the placebo group per month. There have been no studies examining the effects of ma hung for long-term weight loss.

Important Precautions

Although ma huang supplements appear to promote weight loss, the risks may not be worth the rewards. Ma huang can produce numerous unwanted side effects including dizziness, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, headache, increased thirst, dry mouth, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flushing, tingling, difficulty urinating, tachycardia, hyperthermia and increased blood pressure. In addition, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for ma huang and some ma huang supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs . Ma huang can also interact with numerous medications and it is contraindicated in people who have heart disease; angina, irregular heartbeats; high blood pressure; blood vessel disease; asthma or other lung disease; diabetes; insomnia; eating disorder, glaucoma; kidney disease; liver disease or hepatitis. Finally, "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" states that ma hung is approximately 100 times more likely than other herbs to generate an adverse reaction and there are safer herbal products that can be taken to increase thermogenesis and promote weight loss.