Ephedra, also called ma huang, is an Asiatic evergreen shrub with naturally occurring ephederine. This herb has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to treat asthma, hay fever, and nasal and chest congestion. In the 1990s it was marketed as a dietary aid, sports enhancer, and energy booster. The ephedra claim is that it increases the metabolic rate to enhance weight loss and increases the contractile strength of muscle fibers. Ephedra has been an ingredient in many products manufactured by different companies.
Because ephedra was used as a dietary supplement and not a drug or food, the manufacturers of products containing ephedra didn’t have to get FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval before marketing their products, but the FDA had the power to remove ephedra from the market if ephedra was proven to be dangerous.
After reports of many ephedra side effects, such as death, heart attacks, and strokes, the consumer advocacy organization Public Citizens Health Research Group called for a ban of ephedra in 2001, and the American Medical Association asked for a ban in October 2002. In February 2003 the FDA proposed a rule to put a black box warning label on ephedra products, the FDA’s most serious level of warning. While the rule on the ephedra warning was pending a new study revealed more evidence of ephedra side effects, and the FDA decided to ban the sale of ephedra except in traditional Chinese medicine and products already under FDA control. The ban took effect April 12, 2004.
The ban was challenged in Utah, and a federal district judge overturned the ban in a decision that applied only to the central district of Utah. Products containing ephedra continued to be manufactured there and sold online until the case was overturned on appeal in 2006.
Ephedra is now banned in the U.S. except for use in traditional Chinese medicine, but to be safe check the ingredients of any products you purchase online that might contain ephedra. Ephedra may also be listed as:
Check out the following articles for more information about ephedra, filing an ephedra lawsuit and finding an ephedra attorney.