Ephedra vs. Ephedrine, What Is The Difference
Bobby Hiatt
Ephedra is a shrub like plant that grows in the desert regions
of Asia as well as other parts of the world. When the plant is
dried out, the greens of the plant can be used medicinally. It
is most widely known as the plant source of the alkaloids
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
Ephedra sinica is another derivative known under the Chinese
name of Ma Huang and is used for weight loss, and energy boosts
among those who are active.
Ephedrine is the chemical derivative of the herb Ephedra
sinica; it stimulates the central nervous system and
cardiovascular system as well as dilation of the bronchial
tubes. Any product that contains ephedrine can use the compound
that is extracted from Ephedra, or it can be produced
synthetically. The FDA regulates ephedrine, the synthesized
form of ephedra. Ephedrine can be produced by chemical
synthesis and in its pure form (ephedrine sulfate) is a bitter
tasting, white, powder.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine stimulate the opening of air
passages in the lungs and are used as decongestants for the
short-term treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and certain
allergic reactions.
The history of Ephedra is that it was used by the Chinese to
treat respiratory problems such as asthma. The Ephedra grass is
grown and cultivated in India and China with China being the
world’s biggest producer of ephedrine.
Here in the U.S. ephedra and ephedrine are sold in health food
and nutritional supplement stores and well as online
distributors. Used commonly for weight loss, it is also used as
an energy booster and for the enhancement of athletic
performance. It is usually taken orally with common doses being
around 30-60 mg in the form of a capsule or tablet and is
commonly found in nutrition supplement drinks, protein drinks
and energy drink formulas.
In December of 2003, the Government announced that it was
placing a ban on selling all Ephedra products stating the
substance was unsafe. This ban was lifted the following April
after a Utah based company challenged the ruling on the ban.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), passed
in 1994, amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of
1938 to change how dietary supplements were to be regulated and
labeled. Under the DSHEA, dietary supplements had been
classified as foods and not as drugs. The judge ruled, in
accordance with the DSHEA, the FDA could not place the burden
to prove safety on dietary supplement manufacturers as it does
for drug makers.
Because this ban has been lifted there are now many Ephedra
based products on the market today. It does have the ability to
aid in increasing one’s metabolism and is used in diet pills and
other forms of nutritional supplements such as energy drinks,
tablets and capsules to assist with weight loss.
About The Author: Bobby Hiatt, AS Allied Medicine, is Director
Fitness and Nutrition for
http://www.supplementstogo.com visit
the website for more information on weight loss, athletic
performance, body building, and all of your discount
nutritional supplement.
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