Ephedrine
Species Name: Ephedra, Ephedra sinica.
Also known as: Ma Huang.
It’s important to understand the implications of using ephedrine, especially for anything longer than two weeks.
In the United States, any products that contained ephedra were banned in 2004 because of their tendency to cause heart-related problems.
However, it was also noted that this was due to many people using it as an appetite suppressant, which was not the intention when it was introduced into Chinese medicine centuries ago.
What is Ephedrine: Ephedrine is similar in structure to its synthetic derivatives, amphetamine and methamphetamine. It is beneficial as an appetite suppressant, aid for concentration, a decongestant, and in the treatment of hypertension that is related to regional anesthesia.
Its chemical composition is as a derivative from various plants in the ephedra family and is usually found in the hydrochloride and sulfate forms.
The Chinese medicinal herb ma huang contains ephedrine as the main active constituent as do many other herbal products that contain extracts from the ephedra species. The substance, soma, mentioned in all Hindu books may have been an ephedra extract.
Home remedies using ephedrin:
Benefits of Ephedrine:
Ephedrine can be helpful as an appetite suppressant, though with the original Chinese medicine, its principal use was as treatment for asthma, colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections.
Though its use it forbidden in the area of competitive sports, it is also a performance enhancer.
It’s important to remember with this herb that the side effects may far exceed any benefits that may be derived from its use other those of its original intention as a treatment for colds, flu, and other respiratory ailments.
Uses of Ephedrine:
- To relieve the symptoms of the common cold
- To treat bad breath as a mouthwash
- To treat minor skin sores including cuts, blemishes and pimples
- As a tonic to help settle the stomach
- To relieve the symptoms of the flu
- As a decongestant in soft gel form
- As capsules as an appetite suppressant
- As a constituent in body building and performance enhancing products such as Ribbed Energy
Side Effects of Ephedrine:
- Various heart problems including tachycardia, arrhythmias, angina pain, and vasoconstriction with hypertension
- Flushing, sweating, and acne vulgaris
- Nausea, loss of appetite, anorexia
- Increase in urine output because of an increase in blood flow
- Restlessness, confusion, insomnia, and mild euphoria
- Hallucinations, delusions, formication, paranoia, hostility, panic, obsessive/compulsive disorder, agitation
- Dyspnea, pulmonary edema
- Dizziness, headache, tremors, hyperglycemic symptoms
