Ephedra, also known as Ma Huang, comes from a Chinese shrub. It is a supplement that has been used for hundreds of years for various medicines and remedies in China. The main ingredients are a group of amphetamine-like compounds known as ephedrine-alkaloids, which are effective as decongestants. The plant serves as an extremely powerful stimulant. The drug affects the central nervous system, brain, and heart, often with distinctly detrimental effects.

Dietary supplements containing Ephedra/ephedrine are sold throughout the U.S. as weight loss products, herbal stimulants, and energy boosters. Over 200 products on the market contain Ephedra in some form.
 
Ephedra is a stimulant, and much like steroids, it speeds up your heart rate considerably. As a result, Ephedra is used for two main purposes. Weight loss, and athletic performance. While there are minimal differences in enhanced weight loss, the long-term effects of the drug are still unknown. As far as athletic performance goes, the drug proved to have no specific benefits accept mild periodic energy boosts.
In January 2002, Health Canada (The Canadian heart organization) issued a recall on most products containing significant amounts of Ephedra, specifically saying the drug “posed several serious health risks”.  In the U.S., the drug is still legal (in some places) but highly regulated. It is still being intensely researched by the FDA, and many supplements that contained Ephedra have switched to alternative ingredients.
 
Sometimes it takes the FDA a long time to recognize many of the negative effects of a certain drug, and in the case of Ephedra, many people died before something was done. The information is out there now and the public knows the dangers.
 
Ephedra is most commonly found in specific dietary supplements or energy boosters, but it is important to realize that Ephedra can also be found in numerous energy drinks, sports drinks, or energy snack bars. Ephedra can be addictive, so be careful if you do make the decision to use it.  It is best to see a physician and have him or her monitor your use of the product.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

• Stroke, Seizure or Heart Attack
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Vomiting
• Hives
• Hepatitis
• Heart Irregularities
• Headaches
• Chest Pain
• Sudden Death