Ephedra, a shrub-like plant long used in Chinese medicine, has a checkered history of use in the United States. Because of its amphetamine-like stimulating effects, ephedra, also known as ma-huang, has been used as an appetite suppressant as well as an athletic performance enhancer. Ephedra contains ephedrine alklaloids, naturally occurring plant compounds that often have medicinal uses. Because ephedra contains ephedrine alkaloids, the two have the same effects.
Makeup
Ephedrine alkaloids are the primary active ingredients found in the ephedra plant. Alkaloids make up between 1 and 3 percent of the stem; ephedrine alkaloids account for between 30 and 90 percent of the alkaloids in ephedra, according to the Ephedrine Legal Advice website.
Actions
Ephedrine alkaloids act directly on adrenergic receptors, stimulating release of norepinephrine. Release of norepinephrine causes the symptoms of an "adrenal rush." The effects of ephedrine include appetite suppression, bronchodilation, which makes it useful as a drug to treat respiratory disorders, increased energy levels, sweatiness, headaches, anxiety, restlessness, mood changes and confusion. Nausea and vomiting can also occur, along with kidney stones. Ephedrine causes dose-dependent increases in heart rate and blood pressure, while ephedra has inconsistent effects on both, according to the Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research.
Dangers
Ephedrine alkaloids and other ingredients that make up the active components of ephedra have dangerous, even potentially life-threatening side effects. They increase your heart rate and have caused irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, stroke and seizures. Serious psychiatric effects include hallucinations or psychosis. Many formulations made from ephedra also contained caffeine, which greatly potentiates the effects of the drug, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
FDA Regulations
The United States Food and Drug Administration banned the use of ephedra, including the use of ephedrine alkaloids, in May 2004. Synthetic forms of ephedrine are still sold in drugs such as cold medications and bronchodilators. Synthetic forms of ephedrine are regulated as drugs rather than dietary supplements, the category that ephedra and ephedrine fall into.
Member Comments