| What is Ephedra?
Ephedra (also known as ma huang) is a herb. The plant is a natural source of ephedrine, a stimulant found in many prescription and nonprescription drugs including decongestants, bronchodilators, and allergy medications. It is also been used a traditional Chinese medicine as well.
Ephedra is a key ingredient in a wide variety of products sold in health food stores and over the Internet that promise weight loss (such as "herbal fen-phen"), increased energy (Ultra Boost Herbal Dynamite and Super Caps), and better athletic performance (Prolabs Stoked and Thermoblast). Ephedra's use in weight loss and sports products, however has been linked to a number of deaths, according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports.
What are the Dangers of Ephedra?
Ephedrine - the chemical that gives Ephedra its kick - stimulates the heart and nervous system and can raise blood pressure, sometimes to dangerous levels. Over the last five years, the FDA has learned of more than 1,000 serious reactions, including 38 deaths, that may be linked to "natural" supplements containing Ephedra. Users have experienced soaring blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, tremors, seizures, heart attack and stroke.
A case in point from the FDA's files: A previously healthy 23 year old male college student who had taken a strength-building product containing Ephedra for two years was found dead by his sister in the apartment they shared. The medical examiner ruled that ephedrine from the supplement had destroyed large portions of his heart.
In a recent legal case, a 30 year old woman experienced insomnia and symptoms of mania shortly after she began taking diet supplements containing ephedrine and caffeine. Within a week, she was admitted to a medical center's psychiatric ward for a period of 10 days. Before taking the supplements, she had no history of psychiatric condition.
Does Ephedra Work?
Since the herb contains the amphetamine-like stimulant ephedrine, Ephedra can boost your energy and possibly your athletic performance level. Ephedrine is an excellent decongestant. But many of the other claims don't hold up. Ephedra is probably ineffective when used alone for weight loss. And although the International Olympic Committee prohibits the use of ephedrine compounds (so does the NCAA), they don't seem to provide much of an athletic edge. Only a few small studies have looked at ephedrine's impact on athletes, and most found that the drug had no effect on strength or endurance contrary to what the "muscle magazines" have to say.
Do Ephedra Products have Warning Labels?
Prescriptions and nonprescription medication that contain ephedrine are marked with a slew of warning about the side effects and drug interactions. Although some manufactures have added more comprehensive warnings to their labels, athletes who buy ephedrine products from a health food store or a fitness club may not be lucky enough to get a package labeled with these cautions.
In the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, a sprinter nearly lost his silver medal because of a failed drug test that showed Ephedra in his system due to a herbal tea which left traces of the drug in his body. The United State Olympic Committee even has a Drug Reference Hot Line to call if an athlete is unsure a drug is on the International Olympic Committed Prohibited Doping List.
The United States Olympic Committed gives their athletes these suggestions:
- Before taking any substance, check with the Olympic Drug Reference Line (1-800-233-0393).
- Medications prescribed by your physician may contain prohibited substances. Have your doctor call the Olympic Drug Reference Line to check the status of all drugs.
- Some medications are available in different combinations; one may be allowed, while another is prohibited (e.g. Claritin an antihistamine is permitted, Clartin D, with a decongestant, is not.)
- Some vitamins, herbal and nutritional supplements may contain prohibited substance. USE OF THESE PRODUCTS IS AT THE ATHLETES' OWN RISK!
- Use of foreign medications is at the athlete's own risk!
- Different drugs may be prohibited by certain sports. Always check with your National Sports Governing Body.
Keep in mind that the federal government doesn't regulate Ephedra or other herbs and supplements as it does prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The quality and potency vary greatly from product to product, with some supplements containing too little or even too much of the active ingredient. Some supplements may be contaminated with traces of toxic materials and other drugs. Some herbs may even interact in harmful ways with drugs and supplements, so it is very important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement.
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