Description: It is found on sandy seashores and in temperate climates of both hemispheres. The plant has stamens and pistils on separate flowers--staminate flowers in catkins and a membraneous perianth, pistillate flowers terminal on axillary stalks, within a two-leaved involucre. Fruit has two carpels with a single seed in each and is a succulent cone, branches slender and erect, small leaves, scale-like, articulated and joined at the base into a sheath.
The effect of a supplement containing ephedra and caffeine on weight loss was examined in a randomized controlled trial with 67 overweight subjects. They were given either the active supplement (containing 72 mg of ephedra and 240 mg of caffeine) or a placebo pill every day for eight weeks. At the end of the study, subjects taking the active supplement lost an average of 8.8 lb as compared to 0.88 lb in the placebo group. Blood triglyceride levels and hip circumference were also reduced in the active treatment group. Several adverse symptoms such as dry mouth, insomnia and headache were reported. It is unclear from this study if the effects were more from ephedra or guarana, or what the long-term health effects are.
The Chinese have used ephedra medicinally for over 5,000 years. Ephedra is listed as one of the original 365 herbs from the classical first century A.D. text on Chinese herbalism by Shen Nong. Ephedra's traditional medicinal uses include the alleviation of sweating, lung and bronchial constriction, and water retention. Coughing, shortness of breath, the common cold, and fevers without sweat are all indications for its use. While the active constituent, ephedrine, was isolated in 1887, it was not until 1924 that the herb became popular with physicians in the US. for its broncho-dilating and decongesting properties
Main constituents: Ephedra's active medicinal ingredients are the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The stem contains 1-3% total alkaloids, with ephedrine accounting for 30-90% of this total, depending on the plant species employed. Both ephedrine and its synthetic counterparts stimulate the central nervous system, dilate the bronchial tubes, elevate blood pressure, and increase heart rate. Pseudoephedrine (the synthetic form) is a popular over-the-counter remedy for relief of nasal congestion.
Properties: Diaphoretic, bronchial dilator, diuretic
Uses: Induces perspiration, warms coldness, relieves wheezing, moves fluids. It is used for common cold, wheezing, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and edema.
Safety Considerations: Hypertension, palpitations, heart attack, stroke, seizures, insomnia, cardiomyopathy, psychosis and death.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Aspirin: May increase risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
Benzodiazepines and other sedatives: Effects may be antagonized by ephedra.
Beta-adrenergic agonists: Ephedra may potentiate effects of beta-adrenergic agonists.
CNS stimulants: May increase stimulatory effects.
Theophylline: May increase stimulatory effects.
Digoxin: Concomitant use can cause arrhythmia.
Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAO-I): Concomitant use can cause hypertensive crisis.
Consumption of ephedra alkaloids may interfere with urine amphetamine test resulting in false-positive readings.
Ephedra may increase blood glucose levels.
Ephedra should not be used by those with external deficiency with symptoms of spontaneous sweating. Because the alkaloids have an effect similar to that of adrenaline, ephedra should not be used with symptoms of high blood pressure or insomnia.
Ephedra has a long history of safe use at the recommended amount. However, abuse of the drug-especially for weight loss-can lead to amphetamine-like side effects, including elevated blood pressure, muscle disturbances, insomnia, dry mouth, heart palpitations, nervousness, and even death due to heart failure.
Anyone with high blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, glaucoma, thyroid disease, and those taking MAO-inhibiting antidepressants should consult with a physician before using any type of product with ephedra.
Pseudoephedrine can cause drowsiness and should be used with caution if driving or operating machinery Ephedra-based products should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation and used with caution in children under the age of six years.
US FDA recommends that the amount of ephedra added to dietary supplements to 8 milligrams. FDA wants warning labels put on the products cautioning against taking them for more than a week, and advising consumers not to combine them with other stimulants. These were retracted on strong opposition from the General Accounting Office (GAO), that the agency does not have enough evidence to make such recommendation. However, FDA has kept the warning against mixing ephedrine with other stimulants.
Medical experts suggest that used as a stimulant, ephedra can raise blood pressure and heart rate, cause vomiting, heart palpitations, dizziness, nervousness and more serious reactions, including heart attacks, seizures and strokes. U.S. FDA has said that between 1997 and 1999 it had received 140 reports of illness or death linked to ephedra alkaloids. Since then, the agency has gotten another 103 such reports, but those haven't been investigated. A recent study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that ephedra might be the main culprit for those deaths. (Read the entire article on the discussion of the safety of this drug.)
Because of the possible danger due to the abuse, we recommend that you should limit the amount of this herb consumed strictly. It has been shown that many times, the actual amount of the active ingredients present in the products can differ substantially from batch to batch due to poor quality controls. So, caution is recommended. We also recommend that you do not take this with stimulants such as caffeine.
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