Ephedra

Topic Overview

NOTE: The use of ephedra is restricted in Canada. In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of ephedra because of concerns about its safety. The product has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and some deaths.

What is ephedra?

Ephedra—also known as ma huang and by its scientific name, Ephedra sinica—is an herbal product that comes from an evergreen plant. The Chinese used these plants 5,000 years ago, possibly for the treatment of asthma and hay fever. But they used plant preparations unlike the modern ephedra supplements that are now banned.

Ephedra stimulates the brain, causing nervousness and making the heart beat faster. It temporarily expands the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes), which makes breathing easier in people who have asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Serious problems are associated with ephedra. There have been some reports of heart attacks and deaths after its use. Do not take ephedra or anything that contains ephedra.

What is ephedra used for?

Ephedra was used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat asthma.

More recently, people used ephedra as an energy booster and to help with weight loss.

Is ephedra safe?

Health Canada currently approves certain oral products containing low doses of ephedra for short-term use as nasal decongestants. However, products that contain a combination of ephedra and a stimulant, such as caffeine, or other ingredients which might increase the effects of ephedra are not approved for use in Canada. Ephedra products that are marketed for weight loss, bodybuilding, or increased energy are also not allowed to be marketed in Canada.¹

The FDA has banned the sale of ephedra in the U.S. because the product has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and some deaths.

Although ephedra's ability to enlarge airways to the lungs has long been known, there are no long-term studies on its effectiveness in people with asthma or on how it might fit into an asthma treatment plan.

Side effects of ephedra include:

• Nervousness.
• Dizziness.
• Tremor.
• Headache.
• Insomnia.
• Irritability.
• Vomiting.
• Potential dependence.

At high doses, ephedra has been reported to cause:

• High blood pressure.
• Chest pain.
• Heart attack.
• Stroke.
• Seizures.
• Irregular and racing heartbeat, possibly leading to death.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: October 1, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Marc S. Micozzi, MD, PhD - Policy Institute for Integrative Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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