Ephedra is an herb that, according to the medical reference UpToDate, was used as a weight-loss dietary supplement. Ephedra contains substances called ephedrine alkaloids; these stimulate several cell receptors in the body, resulting in...
Ephedrine is the principle component in ephedra, an herb used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, and more recently marketed as an ingredient in dietary supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative...
Dietary and health supplements containing extracts of the ephedra plant were once marketed in the U.S. as energy boosters and fat reducers. Ephedra extracts contain chemical alkaloids called ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. These compounds increase...
Ephedrine and caffeine are two parts of the popular fat-burning ECA stack. Users take ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin for weight loss and as a stimulant. People with an aspirin intolerance often just use ephedrine and caffeine together, or an EC...
Yohimbe is a tree found in West Africa. The bark of the yohimbe tree is used as an herbal remedy for various conditions, most notably sexual dysfunction. According to eMedTV, studies have suggested that yohimbine, a drug made from the active...
Ephedrine is a natural substance derived from plant botanicals; it also is called ma huang in Chinese medicine. This ingredient was often combined with caffeine to create over-the-counter weight loss pills and supplements. But because ephedra and...
Ephedra, also known as ma huang, yellow astringent, yellow horse and pinellia, is one of China's oldest traditional medicines, but not for weight loss. People in China used it as far back as 100 A.D. -- and still do -- to treat asthma, influenza...
Phenylpropanolamine is an anorectic, or a substance that causes loss of appetite. Medications containing phenylpropanolamine aid diet efforts over a short term. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, lists phenylpropanolamine as a drug of...
Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is a supplement that seems to promote weight loss when taken with caffeine. Safety concerns, including hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia, heart attack, and stroke, have been linked to ephedrine use, according...
Over half of the people in the United States express a desire to lose weight, and an even higher fraction is classified as above an ideal weight. From diet books and low-calorie foods and beverages to group slimming programs such as Weight...
Ephedra was officially banned by the FDA on April 12, 2004. However, if you search the Internet, you will find many companies marketing diet pills with ephedra. These products contain North American ephedra, which contains no ephedra alkaloids....
While some over-the-counter and prescription diet pills are safe to use, representatives of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have banned a growing number of once-popular diet pills. Drugs that were banned usually caused heart damage or death...
A supplement that claims to be able to "jump start" your weight-loss program, Puranol supplements are sold as detoxifying agents made of all-natural ingredients. The manufacturers suggest that weight loss is inhibited by toxins in the body, and...
The idea of a miracle weight-loss drug is a seductive one. Appetite-suppressing teas and calorie-burning pills, after all, would help you maintain a healthy weight without extra workouts or dieting. As seductive as it sounds, however, the promise...
Ephedra or ephedrine alkaloids known by other names including ma huang, mao and sea grape were banned from use in dietary weight-loss products by the FDA in 2004. This decision was based on numerous studies that linked its use to heart attacks,...
Ephedrine is a stimulant used in the treatment of asthma and other breathing problems. Guarana -- a caffeine-containing plant -- is sometimes combined with ephedrine for enhanced stimulant effects. Both substances can cause side effects...
Ephedrine, a stimulant used to promote weight loss, boost energy and aid in the treatment of asthma, has the potential to cause severe adverse reactions in some people. Common side effects of ephedrine include nervousness, anxiety, agitation,...
Ephedra nevadensis, also known as Mormon tea, is a naturally occurring herb that is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Research has suggested that ephedra may aid in weight loss; however, the supplement is not approved for such use...
With health care costs spiraling out of control, and obesity-related health problems on the rise, more people are turning to low-cost herbal remedies to help achieve their weight loss goals. A range of ingredients are commonly included in herbal...
To start an "alkaloid diet," you will consume alkaloids that help your body burn fat. The most popular fat-burning alkaloid is ephedra. Ephedra alkaloids are widely available despite the medical community's warning against this supplement. In...
Ephedra nevadensis, also called Mormon tea, is a type of plant found predominately in the Southwest region of the United States. Contrary to popular belief, this plant does not contain much, if any, ephedrine, a substance that may help certain...
Known in Chinese as ma huang, ephedra is a plant extract that has been used in dietary supplements for weight loss. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine -- two alkaloids in ephedra -- stimulate the central nervous system and in combination with caffeine,...
Ephedra sinica is a plant used in alternative medicine for its stimulant effects. While it can be effective for boosting weight loss, ephedra may cause life-threatening side effects like heart attack or stroke. Whether used in supplement form or...
Ephedrine is the active ingredient in the herbal supplement ephedra, a related herbal remedy derived from a shrub native to the Indian subcontinent. Its primary use is in respiratory therapy, as it dilates airways and helps with breathing. Its use...
Ephedra is a natural herb that has long been used in the treatment of numerous diseases, especially those related to breathing (such as asthma and hay fever) and the joints. While extremely effective and safe in controlled doses, the use of...
Ephedra is an ingredient that was used in some diet pills before 2004, when the FDA banned it. Ephedra is considered a stimulant that was often used in combination with caffeine to elicit weight loss. Clinical trials did show that ephedra was...
The use of supplements is common practice among athletes. Many believe taking supplements will improve performance. However, not all supplements are safe, and not all supplements have been proven effective. Supplements used by athletes include...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of ephedrine alkaloids in 2004 due to health risks including high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The herbal supplement is also known as ma huang in China and can stimulate the...
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration placed a ban on stimulants in dietary supplements in 2004, companies such as Twinlab, makers of the weight-loss and muscle building supplement Ripped Fuel, used stimulants such as ephedra to increase...
