Ephedra

**FDA Warning:**
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

=**Definition:**= Ephedra- also known as ma huang is a herbal product that comes from an evergreen plant. Ephedra stimulates the brain, causing nervousness and making the heart beat faster. It temporarily expands the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes), which makes breathing easier in people who have asthma and other respiratory illnesses. More recently, people used ephedra as an energy booster and to help with weight loss. (www.webmd.com, 2009) The main active ingredients in ephedra are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine which account for the medicinal properties of the herb. Both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are central nervous system stimulants that act as decongestants but, in high doses, can raise blood pressure. (www.medterms.com, 2012)

=Sources:= Ephedra comes from the evergreen plant Ephedra Sinica. Ephedra's main ingredient, ephedrine, used to be available in pill or liquid form. Many pill forms come in a combination of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin. Ephedra is no longer available since being banned in 2004. (wikipedia.org, 2014)

=Recommendations:= Nobody should be using ephedra because it has been banned for sale by the FDA since 2004. However, before ephedra was banned, it was typically used by professional athletes (sports performance increasing effects have not been intensely studied), body builders, and individuals looking to lose weight. (wikipedia.org, 2014) Combining ephedra with caffeine may have a modest effect on short-term athletic performance.(Shekelle, et. al, 2003)

=Usage= The recommended does of ephedra is no more than 100 mg per day for no longer than 12 weeks. However, because of the fatal side effects of ephedra it is recommended that doses no larger than 8 mg per serving, no more often than every 6 hours, and not to exceed 24 mg per day. Symptoms of ephedra overdose include heart attack, stroke, or death. (www.drugs.com, 2010)

=Warnings/Side Effects= Death Stroke Heart Attack Anxiety Difficulty Urinating Dry Mouth Headache High Blood Pressure Irregular Heart Rhythms Irritation of Stomach Kidney Stones Nausea Psychosis Restlessness Tremors (ncaam.nih.gov/health/ephedra, 2013)

=Rankings=

Effectiveness: 5/5
Ephedra has been shown to be an effective supplement when used as a stimulant and for weight loss because of its properties that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and dilate the bronchial tubes.

Safety: 2/5
Ephedra has been associated with an abundance of side effects including those which may be fatal. However, these deaths have not been directly linked to ephedra itself.

Cost: 1/5
Cost for ephedra is really expensive seeing as it is illegal. You would have to find an "outside source" to get it from. Typically you can find products that claim to have the same effects at a price of $30.00 for 30 servings. However, buyer beware when following these claims.

Ease of Use: 5/5
The typical way you find ephedra is in pill form with a stack of caffeine and aspirin. If you are not much of a pill person it can also be found in a powder form.

Total Score: 13/20
Ephedra is a very effective supplement that is very easy to use; however, it can be quite costly. Ephedra can be very dangerous as it has many side effects, including some that can be fatal. This supplement is not recommended for anyone.

=References=

Ephedra. (2014, January 3). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra

Ephedra definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of popular medical terms easily defined on MedTerms. (2012, June 14). Medterms. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=22960

Ephedra-Topic Overview. (2009, June 30). WebMD. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/ephedra-topic-overview

Foster, S. (n.d.). Ephedra. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ephedra

Shekelle, P., Hardy, M., McKinnon, E., Morton, S., Maglione, M., Suttorp, M., et al. (2003). Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects: Summary. AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries (p. 76). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US).

Vukovich, M., Schoorman, R., Heilman, C., III, P. J., & Benowitz, N. (2005). Caffeine-Herbal Ephedra Combination Increases Resting Energy Expenditure, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 32, 47-53. Retrieved January 10, 2014, from the Ebscohost database.

ma huang. (n.d.). Ma huang medical facts from Drugs.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.drugs.com/mtm/ma-huang.html