J. Douglas Bremner
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 EPHEDRA
One such supplement is the Chinese plant ma huang, which contains ephedra, a compound similar to ephedrine, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedra increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy expenditure, stimulating beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic sympathetic receptors. Ephedra is often combined with caffeine as a weight-loss supplement. ma huang is also combined with guarana, a Brazilian plant with a high caffeine concentration, and promoted as a weight-loss supplement. |
| MA HUANG
The Chinese plant ma huang, one of the most popular supplements, contains ephedra, a compound similar to ephedrine (see Chapter 6 for more information, page 123). Ephedra is one of the most dangerous over-the-counter supplements available today. It is associated with a two- to threefold increase in psychiatric, autonomic, heart-related, and gastrointestinal side effects. Eighty-seven episodes of heart attack, stroke, seizures, and high blood pressure have been reported to the FDA. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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 Case reports describe episodes of dizziness, acute headache and hypertension, and acute headache with left-sided weakness and numbness associated with ingestion of ma huang (Franklin et al, 1996). All symptoms resolved within a few hours.
Dependence: Nine women and 18 men with no drug use history were given doses of 37.5 to 75 mg of ephedrine and asked to score subjective effects. Scores for being ' 'high'' and for ' 'euphoria'' were given in 5 of the 27 subjects. The effects were less than that of amphetamines (Schuckit, 1996). |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 In fact, the Western drugs ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are commonly found in over-the-counter cold preparations, are compounds derived from ma huang. ma huang is a "hot" or yang herb. In fact, it speeds up metabolism and is used in the West in some herbal weight-loss formulas. Although ma huang has been used safely in China for 4000 years, there have been reports of teens using it to get high. If taken in excess, ma huang can have an amphetamine-like effect, causing the heart to race and blood pressure to rise. This herb should definitely not be used by people with heart problems. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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 The common name ma huang is an Anglicized spelling of the Chinese name. Ma translates as "astringent" or possibly "hemp" (in reference to the starlike stems of the plant), while huang translates as "yellow," in reference to the plant's color. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| In fact, the Western drugs ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are commonly found in over-the-counter cold preparations, are compounds derived from ma huang. ma huang is a "hot" or yang herb. In fact, it speeds up metabolism and is used in the West in some herbal weight-loss formulas. Although ma huang has been used safely in China for 4000 years, there have been reports of teens using it to get high. If taken in excess, ma huang can have an amphetamine-like effect, causing the heart to race and blood pressure to rise. This herb should definitely not be used by people with heart problems. |
Marshall Editions
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 To treat wheezing during any season that is associated with a fever, thirst, and yellow mucus: Mix 3 g of ma huang (ephedra), 12 g of Xin Ren (almond kernel), 12 g of San Bai Pi (mulberry root bark), 12 g of Huang Qin (baical skullcap root), 10 g of Kwan Dong Hua (coltsfoot flower), 10 g of Zi Su Zi (perilla leaf), 12 g of Bai Guo (ginkgo nut), and 6 g of Gan Cao (licorice).
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Acupuncture: An acupuncture session can effectively reduce wheezing for a couple of days. In the acute stage, you may have acupuncture up to once a day. |
| To treat wheezing that occurs during the winter and is associated with chills and clear or white mucus: Mix 6 g of ma huang (ephedra stem), 10 g of Cui Zhi (cinnamon), 12 g of Bai Shao (white peony root), 12 g of Wu Wei Zi (schisandra fruit), 5 g of dried ginger, 12 g of Fa Ben Xia (pinellia rhizome), and 5 g of Gan Cao (licorice). |
| Combine 6 g of Huang Qin (baical
þ" skullcap root), 8 g of Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit), 6 g of Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower), 8 g of Zhi Zi (Cape Jasmine fruit), 6 g of Gan Cao ¦ (licorice), 8 g of Xin Ren (apricot kernel), 3 g of ma huang (ephedra stem), and 5 g of Bo He (field mint) in a glass or ceramic pot. Add 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink 1 cup twice a day.
Acupuncture: Treatment can be useful if the child is cooperative. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| Fulminant exacerbation of autoimmune hepatitis after the use of ma huang. Am J Gastroenterol; 96(5): 1654-6555. 2001.
Brater DC, Kaojarern S, Benet LZ et al. Renal excretion of pseudoephedrine. Clin Pharmacol Ther; 28:690-694. 1980.
Capwell RR. Ephedrine-induced mania from an herbal diet supplement. Am J Psychiatry; 152:647. 1995.
Cho S, Hong T, Jin GB et al. The combination therapy of ephedra herb and loxoprofen caused gastric lesions in mice. Am J Chin Ato/;30(4):571-7. 2002.
Chua SS & Benrimoj SI. Non-prescription sympathomimetic agents and hypertension. |
| Patients were given a walking program and a usual diet with controlled-fat intake in conjunction with placebo (n=84) or a combination regimen of ma huang (ephedra) 90 milligrams (mg) and kola nut (caffeine) 192 mg daily (n=83). Heart rate, but not blood pressure, showed significant increase at 6 months in association with herbal use compared with placebo (p<0.001). |
| Nadir A, Agrawal S, King PD et al: Acute hepatitis associated with the use of a Chinese herbal product, ma huang. Am J Gastroenterol; 91:1436-1438. 1996.
Nishikawa T, Kimura T, Taguchi N et al. Oral clonidine preanesthetic medication augments the pressor responses to intravenous ephedrine in awake or anesthetized patients. Anesthesiology; 74:705-710. 1991.
Norregaard J, Jorgensen S, Mikkelsen K et al. The effect of ephedrine plus caffeine on smoking cessation and postcessation weight gain. Clin Pharmacol Ther; 60:679-686. 1996.
Onuigbo M & Alikhan M. |
| Production: ma huang consists of the dried, young bran-chlets, harvested in the fall, of Ephedra sinica, Ephedra shennungiana, or other equivalent Ephedra species. It is mostly cultivated. The plant is harvested as late as possible after the last rain, but before the winter frost and is air-dried in the sun. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 History and folk use
The medicinal use of Ephedra sinica in China dates from approximately 2800 B.C. ma huang refers to the stem and branch, whereas Ma Huanggen refers to the root and rhizome. ma huang was used primarily in the treatment of the common cold, asthma, hay fever, bronchitis, edema, arthritis, fever, hypotension, and urticaria.1
Ma Huanggen's effect is believed to oppose that of the stem and branches. Its use was limited to the treatment of profuse night sweating. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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 A case of acute hepatitis associated with the use of ma huang was reported from the USA. ma huang, Ephedra sinica etspp, is advertised as being useful for causing weight loss and enhancing energy levels. Given the lack of reports in the literature of hepatotoxicity with ma huang and ephedrine, the authors speculated that the ma huang product concerned contained some other ingredient or contaminant or was misidentified. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| A similar efficacy would be expected if ma huang were substituted for the ephedrine; no studies exist to verify.
Diabetic Nephropathy Effects: Ephedrine has been effective in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy in several case reports, including diabetic neuropathic foot pain in a 55-year-old man (Wollersheim et al, 1989). Ephedrine was effective in the treatment of neuropathic edema in 4 insulin-dependent diabetic patients (Edmonds et al, 1983). |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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| Ma Huang refers to the stem and branch, whereas Ma Huanggen refers to the root and rhizome. ma huang was used primarily in the treatment of the common cold, asthma, hay fever, bronchitis, edema, arthritis, fever, hypotension, and urticaria.1
Ma Huanggen's effect is believed to oppose that of the stem and branches. Its use was limited to the treatment of profuse night sweating.3
Western medicine's interest in ephedra began in 1923, with the demonstration that the isolated alkaloid ephedrine possessed a number of pharmacological effects. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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| It is often combined with caffeine as a weight-loss supplement. ma huang is also combined with guarana, a Brazilian plant with a high caffeine concentration, and promoted as a weight-loss supplement. A recent meta-analysis showed that ephedra-containing products result in a weight loss of two pounds per month, although no information is available for treatment longer than six months.
I recommend avoiding it.
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St. |
| Or, lured by the promise of near-magical weight loss, they pick up some ma huang or another dietary supplement at the drugstore.
It's not surprising that the diet-drug indusrry is robust; not only is the idea of easy weight loss appealing, but the National Institutes of Health recommend that most obese Americans should undergo drug treatment, which means that 100 million Americans could be on drugs for obesity.
However, diet drugs generally have not been shown to help people reach or sustain their weight-loss goal. |
| Ephedra is often combined with caffeine as a weight-loss supplement. ma huang is also combined with guarana, a Brazilian plant with a high caffeine concentration, and promoted as a weight-loss supplement. A recent meta-analysis by Shekelle and colleagues that pooled the results from several different studies showed that ephedra-containing products result in weight loss of two pounds per month, although no information is available for treatment longer than six months.4
Ephedra is one of the most dangerous over-the-counter supplements available today. |
| Do not under any circumstance take Meridia, ephedra, ma huang, phenter-mine, or any of the other amphetaminelike drugs.
Drug
Common, . |
Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.
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 By stimulating specific adrenergic receptors, synephrine is thought to stimulate fat metabolism without the negative cardiovascular side effects experienced by some people with ephedra, also called ma huang.
Bitter orange usually contains about 1 to 6 percent synephrine, but some manufacturers boost the content to as much as 30 percent. It does
93 have a thermogenic (fat-burning) effect ; in animal studies, synephrine caused weight loss but also increased the risk of cardiovascular problems. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 The FDA, for example, banned the Chinese herb ma huang because it contains ephedra. Yet the exact same chemical compound remains perfectly legal in over-the-counter drugs like Sudafed and a variety of cold medicines. Sudafed even gets its name from ephedra: "pseudo-ephedrine." So why is ephedrine illegal in herbs, yet legal in pharmacy drugs manufactured by drug companies? You already know the answer.
With all that in mind, why do you think prescription drugs that kill people remain legal? Think carefully now... |
Bryan Hanson, PhD
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 The other example in the figure is the molecule albuterol, a synthetic molecule whose structure is similar to ephedrine, a major component of the Chinese herbal medicine ma huang (from the plant Ephedra sinica; compare the structure of ephedrine in Figure 6.7 with albuterol). Albuterol is a clinically important bronchodilator used to treat asthma patients when they have acute attacks. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 We saw that with Ephedra, which is the "ma huang" herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. This herb has been used safely for thousands of years, and yet the FDA banned it as an isolated phytochemical even though the very same compound remains perfectly legal in the over-the-counter medicine called Sudafed.
The FDA claims to have banned Ephedra, but that's not what actually happened. All it did was ban the Ephedra herb, not the Ephedra molecule. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Ephedra or ma huang (Ephedra sinica) Medicinal Use: Cough, asthma, hay fever, sinusitis Parts Used: Stem Form Used: Capsule, tea, tablet
Potential Side Effects: Hypertension, insomnia, heart arrhythmias or palpitations, dry mouth
Comments: Avoid during pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Best used under the guidance of a holistic doctor and never for long periods. Not available over the counter since 2004. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Meanwhile, a Chinese herb, ma huang, or "Ephedra," as it's better known, is blamed for the death of a few dozen individuals who overdosed like crazy trying to lose weight. A few dozen people and the FDA said, "This is dangerous! We have to take this off the market! It's unregulated. It's a Chinese herb. It will kill you!" It is now a crime to sell Ephedra. They're criminalizing medicinal herbs, while legalizing the drugs that kill you. This is what's going on today.
It's really about control
There's a lot at stake here -- a lot of power, control, and, of course, a whole lot of money. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 We see them trying to get legislation to ban drugs from Canada and attacking online pharmacies, but then also discrediting any medicinal herbs like ma huang or Ephedra.
Frank: Ephedra – which maybe killed a person or two, maybe it didn't – really begs the (previous) question. Because, I believe the third- or fourth-leading cause of death in the United States today is properly prescribed drugs. In other words: Hospitals and doctors prescribing drugs, so called "ethical drugs," the way the pharmaceutical companies tell them to, are the third or fourth largest killer of patients in the US today. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 There are a few dozen people who have been killed by overdosing on ma huang or Ephedra. The FDA touted that as evidence that the herb was dangerous to everyone, and they decided to ban the herb nationwide, effectively turning vitamin shop owners into criminals if they were to sell Ephedra.
Where was the whole argument of benefits outweighing the risks when the FDA was taking a look at Ephedra? That argument was nowhere to be seen. There are literally millions of people in this country who could benefit from Ephedra as part of a Chinese medicine remedy. |
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