Ephedra Weight Loss Helps Reduce Food Consumption

Like many stimulants, ephedra can help to promote weight loss because it helps to suppress the appetite. Ephedra’s benefit lies in its ability to help with habit changing (e.g., helping to reduce food consumption by suppressing the appetite), not fat-burning. Although some weight-loss formulas contain both ephedra and caffeine, this combination should be avoided, as it can be taxing on the heart.

Because of the many reports of adverse effects, and the fact that it is easy to take too much, ephedra weight loss products should only be used under a doctor’s supervision.

How Much Ephedra Weight Loss is Taken by Dieters?

Warning: Ephedra should only be taken with medical supervision. Ephedra is not for sale in certain parts of the world.

Ephedra sinica, commonly known as ma huang, is a central nervous system stimulant. Double-blind trials have shown that ephedra or a related synthetic substance, particularly when combined with caffeine, promotes weight loss.

A double-blind trial of ephedra alone (2 grams of powdered plant, providing 40 mg of alkaloids) found that the herb failed to increase energy expenditure and showed little potential for the treatment of obesity at the amount used in this trial.

However, combinations of ephedra and either guarana or kola nut, supplying 72 to 90 mg of ephedrine alkaloids and 192 to 240 mg caffeine per day, produced greater weight loss than placebos in two double-blind studies.

Who Should Not Take Ephedra Weight Loss Products

Anyone with high blood pressure, heart conditions, kidney disease, diabetes, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, anxiety or restlessness, impaired circulation to the brain, neurological disorders, benign prostatic hyperplasia with residual urine accumulation, pheochromocytoma (primary adrenal tumor), and those taking MAO-inhibiting antidepressants, digitoxin, ephedrine, or guanethidine should consult with a physician before using any type of product containing 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 breast-feeding and should not be used in children under the age of eighteen years without medical supervision.

Ephedra that is used in weight loss products, is a shrub-like plant found in desert regions throughout the world. It is distributed from northern China to Inner Mongolia. The dried green stems of the three Asian species (Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia, E. equisetina) are used medicinally. The North American species of ephedra, sometimes called Desert Tea or Mormon Tea, does not appear to contain the active ingredients of its Asian counterparts.

Ephedra Products