Ephedra – Banned But Beneficial Herb
The Chinese herb ma-huang, known in the West as ephedra, is the dried stem of three species of primitive shrubs in the ephedra family found in desert regions around the world. Ephedra is a shrub that is native to Pakistan, China, and northwestern India. Some ephedra species grow in the Southwest desert. The ephedra plant is a perennial evergreen that stands, on average, 1 foot high but may grow up to 4 feet. Nearly leafless, the plant has slender, cylindrical, yellow-green branches and underground runners. In August, the flowers bear poisonous, fleshy, red cones resembling berries. The three ephedra species –ephedra sinica, ephedra equisetina, and ephedra intermedia — are collectively known by their Chinese name ma huang. , the branches and tops are used to make medicine, but the root or whole plant can also be used. Ephedra is banned in the U.S. due to safety concerns. Ephedra use is also banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, International Olympic Committee, and National Football League (NFL).
In traditional Chinese medicine its functions were to induce sweat, soothe breath, and promote urination. It is prescribed for bad colds, fevers without sweat, pain in the joints, coughing, shortness of breath, and swelling of the ankles. Ephedra has been used for more than 2,000 years to treat bronchial asthma, colds and flu, chills, lack of perspiration, headache, nasal congestion, aching joints and bones, cough and wheezing, and edema. Ephedra is also used for weight loss and obesity and to enhance athletic performance. It is also used for allergies and hay fever; nasal congestion; and respiratory tract conditions such as bronchospasm, asthma, and bronchitis. It is also used for colds, flu, swine flu, fever, chills, headache, inability to sweat, joint and bone pain, and as a “water pill” to increase urine flow in people who retain fluids.
There has been a lot of debate about the safety of ephedra and legal wrangling over its status. In June 1997, the FDA proposed restrictions on the ephedrine content of dietary supplements, new warning labels for products that contain the active ingredients in ephedra, and a ban on combination products containing ephedra and other natural stimulants, such as guarana and cola nut, both of which contain significant amounts of caffeine. These proposals were dropped after the link between ephedra use and serious adverse effects was challenged by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the dietary supplement industry. According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, FDA must prove a supplement is unsafe before it can be withdrawn from the market. The FDA reviewed numerous adverse event reports involving ephedra-containing products, with 140 of the reports receiving in-depth clinical review by FDA and outside experts. Findings from experts outside the FDA support the FDA’s initial finding that ephedra is likely the cause of many of the events noted in the reports.
Ephedra is sometimes marketed as a recreational drug “herbal ecstasy.” The FDA has announced that ephedra products marketed as recreational drugs are unapproved and that misbranded drugs can be taken by the authorities.
Category: HERBS
