Natural Health Products
Non-traditional solutions to help boost your health and wellness.
Ephedra
General Information
Ephedra is an evergreen shrub-like plant native to Central Asia and Mongolia. The principal active ingredient, ephedrine, is a compound that can powerfully stimulate the nervous system and heart.
Common Name(s)
Scientific Name(s)
How is this product usually used?
The dried stems and leaves of the plant are used to create capsules, tablets, tincturetincturea desired active ingredient that is extracted from alcoholic solutions, and teas.
What is this product used for?
Ephedra has been used for more than 5,000 years in China and India to treat conditions such as colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, wheezing, and nasal congestion.
It has also been an ingredient in many dietary supplements used for weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance.
Your health care provider may have recommended this product for other conditions. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.
What else should I be aware of?
An NCCAM-funded study that analyzed phone calls to poison control centers found a higher rate of side effects from ephedra, compared with other herbal products.
Other studies and systematic reviews have found an increased risk of heart, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal problems, as well as high blood pressure and stroke, with ephedra use.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is little evidence of ephedra’s effectiveness, except for short-term weight loss. However, the increased risk of heart problems and stroke outweighs any benefits.
In 2004, the FDA banned the US sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra. The FDA found that these supplements had an unreasonable risk of injury or illness – particularly cardiovascular complications – and a risk of death. The ban does not apply to traditional Chinese herbal remedies or to products like herbal teas regulated as conventional foods.*
Between 1995 and 1997, the FDA received more than 900 reports of possible ephedra toxicity. Serious adverse events such as stroke, heart attack, and sudden death were reported in 37 cases.
Using ephedra may worsen many health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Ephedra may cause seizures in otherwise healthy people as well as in people with seizure disorders.
Taking ephedra can also result in anxiety, difficulty urinating, dry mouth, headache, heart damage, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, irritation of the stomach, kidney stones, nausea, psychosis, restlessness, sleep problems, and tremors.
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding and children should avoid taking ephedra.
Ephedra use may lead to serious health problems when used with other dietary supplements or medicines.
Combining ephedra with caffeine increases the risk of potentially serious side effects.
Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider about any natural health products you may be taking.
*Products regulated as drugs that contain chemically synthesized ephedrine are not dietary supplements and are not covered by this rule. These include drugs used for the short-term treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and allergic reactions.
Source(s)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Herbs at a Glance. Ephedra. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ephedra/
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2020. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
