Ephedra

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Ephedra

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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.

What Is Ephedra 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.

Common Names -- ephedra, Chinese ephedra, ma huang

How It Is Used

The dried stems and leaves of the plant are used to create capsules, tablets, extracts, tinctures, and teas.

Side Effects and Cautions

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 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.

Go Ephedra-Free!

-- Healthy Weight Formula is designed to support a low-fat diet and exercise program. It contains no ephedra. Healthy Weight is one of the most complete diet and weight loss supplements available.
-- Diet Fuel, a patented, breakthrough Ephedra Free formula, combines an effective complex of clinically proven ingredients to increase metabolic rate, promote weight loss, and increase energy.
-- This new clinically proven, patented ephedra free formula, combines Guarana Seed Extract (a source of Caffeine) and Citrus Aurantium…plus a proprietary blend of thermogenic and metabolic ingredients…to stimulate weight loss and increase energy levels.
-- Ripped Fuel's ephedra free groundbreaking formula combines effective Bitter Orange Fruit Extract, L-Phenylalanine and Guarana Seed Extract (a source of naturally occurring caffeine), with a Metabolic Fat Loss Blend consisting of clinically proven ingredients to reduce fat, increase metabolic rate, and promote lean muscle mass.

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