The Chinese have used the herb ephedra for thousands of years, primarily to address respiratory disorders like asthma. Research suggests potential as a weight loss aid but due to serious safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration placed a ban on supplements made from ephedra species that contain the substances linked to health problems. Other types of ephedra supplements are still widely available and you might even still find illegal products for sale online and in other arenas. Whether the former would produce any weight loss benefit is unknown. Chinese herbal preparations and teas containing ephedra are also available and completely legal. Due to the serious side effects linked to this supplement, you should consider using another product or only using ephedra under the supervision of your doctor.
Research-Based Dosage Guidelines
The dosage of ephedra is based on the amount of ephedrine -- its primary active component -- the supplement contains. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center reports research which found taking 20 mg of ephedrine combined with 200 mg of caffeine three times a day for 24 weeks resulted in significantly more weight loss compared to placebo. It points out that ephedrine on its own did not appear to have any effect. The combination of caffeine and ephedrine, however, can increase the risk of the serious adverse effects associated with this supplement.
Maximum Daily Dose
Beth Israel cautions against taking more than 100 mg of ephedrine daily. Drugs.com reports doses of 32 mg and beyond have resulted in adverse effects, which is about half the dose used in weight loss research. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports an analysis of 20 ephedra products found the amount of active components, like ephidrene, ''often differed markedly from the amount stated on the label.'' A very real danger exists of taking more ephedra than is safe.
Contraindications
Do not use ephedra if you suffer from high blood pressure; the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reports even a single dose of ephedra was shown to significantly raise blood pressure. Ephedra is also contraindicated if you suffer from anxiety, psychiatric disorders, seizures, heart conditions, glaucoma, heart disease, brain disorders, prostate enlargement, difficulty urinating, thyroid disorders, diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease.
Beth Israel notes Traditional Chinese Medicine dictated the use of ephedra only in ''robust people'' for short periods of time, which suggests using it is not the best supplement for people in less than optimal health.
Medication Interactions
Ephedra might interact with several different types of medications. They include MAOI's, drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, aspirin, sedatives, digoxin, theophyllin and, beta-adrenergic agonists.
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