Ephedra
What Kind of Drug Is It?
Ephedra plants are yellow cone-bearing bushes that grow in desert areas. The Chinese herbal remedy ma huang (ma-HWANG) is made from the twigs of the ephedra bush. It has been used to treat asthma (AZ-muh), a lung disorder, for thousands of years. Asthma is a disease that involves swelling and congestion in the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Ephedra is a natural source of ephedrine, just as coffee beans are a natural source of caffeine. For nearly a decade prior to its ban by the U.S. government in 2004, ephedra was associated with very serious side effects, including strokes, heart attacks, and even death in some users.
Overview
The Chinese herbal remedy ephedra, also called ma huang, has generated a whirlwind of debate since the mid-1990s, when some of its users became seriously ill. Reports of adverse events, or negative side effects, related to ephedra use raised considerable concern among physicians and legislators. Until it was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, ephedra was most often taken by young and middle-aged adults for weight loss, increased energy, and bodybuilding. Chinese herbalists argue that ephedra should not be used for these purposes.
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