Weight Loss Pills with Ephedra: A Dangerous Diet Aid

In our search for the newest miracle weight loss product, ephedra seemed for a while to be the real deal. It was very effective at curbing the appetite, and soon dozens of weight loss pills with ephedra flooded the market.

Ephedra, also known as Ma Huang, is an herb that has been used for more than 5,000 years by the Chinese. They used it for a number of respiratory illnesses, including asthma.

However, studies in the mid-1990s began to show the dangerous side of ephedra, especially when used in dieting aids. The substance increased blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, and increases heart rate. The cardiovascular effects were widespread enough for the FDA to ban the sale of ephedra-enhanced diet supplements in 2004.

Some people argued that the ban was unnecessary, especially because the Chinese have used it for so long without ill effects. They also argued that the deleterious effects of the substance existed only in larger doses than were normally found in the herbal supplements.

Since the ban, some states have begun selling supplements containing ephedra again. The FDA continues to stand by its claim that ephedra is unsafe in any amount, so it is up to each person to decide whether to risk the adverse side effects.

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