Ephedra for Weight Loss

Ephedra is also known by its Chinese name "má huáng". Genus ephedra has many species including a Mojave Desert species known as "Mormon Tea". Its antihistamine qualities make it an effective traditional treatment for colds, allergies and asthma. Its stimulant properties make it a sometimes dangerous performance enhancer and weight loss drug.

Ephedra

Ephedra was banned in the U.S. for several years after the 2003 death of a professional baseball player called special attention to the fact that ephedra can cause heatstroke and cardiac arrest. The ban was lifted in 2005 for supplements containing less than 10mg per dose. It is banned by most athletic associations as an illegal performance enhancing drug.

Method

• GrannyMed cautions against using ephedra as a weight loss supplement.

Why ephedra works

Ephedra contains alkaloids called ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. These compounds increase metabolism.

Precautions

Ephedra is a stimulant that can decrease appetite and facilitate weight loss but can also cause heatstroke and/or cardiac arrest. There are also possible interactions with other stimulants such as caffeine that increase the risk of harmful side effects.

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