Ephedra is the name of a shrub with numerous species native to Asia. Sometimes called ephedrine or ma huang, this plant is the source of a controversial supplement usually derived from the plant’s dried greenery. This supplement has been used around the world for different medicinal purposes, such as the treatment of colds and the stimulation of weight loss.
In the United States (US), ma huang, when marketed as a supplement or a medicinal ingredient, was commonly called ephedrine. In the US, the supplement was commonly marketed to stimulate weight loss, to boost energy, and to improve athletic performance. It was also found in over-the-counter asthma medicines. However, in April 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the decision to ban ephedrine, saying “the data showed little evidence of ephedra's effectiveness, except for short-term weight loss, while confirming that the substance raises blood pressure and stresses the heart.”
Ephedra's main active ingredients are stimulants, which act in the body much the same as amphetamines do. According to an explanation by the Rand Corporation, which analyzed the substance, this reveals why it was used in asthma medications. Rand says the stimulants have the ability to relax bronchial tissue, which can result in easing of shortness of breath.
According to Rand’s findings, the supplement did promote some short-term weight loss. When it is used for weight loss purposes, it is believed to be most effective when combined with caffeine. The same is believed to be true when the supplement is used for performance enhancement.
Adequate large and wide scale studies have not been conducted on ephedra or the effects that it causes. Many of the allegations against the substance are quite serious, however. These include claims that the supplement causes heart attacks, high blood pressure, and bleeding in the brain.
Rand concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to hold the substance accountable for the negative claims against it. The corporation did, however, find it noteworthy that many of the serious adverse effects which were blamed on the supplement occurred in healthy people younger than 30.
Ephedra has been used in places such as China and India for centuries, often as a treatment for colds. The controversy that surrounds the supplement leads to another noteworthy point. Generally, in the places where historical use of the supplement has been widely reported, ephedra is not used for the same purposes as it is in the places that report major problems.