During the last week of 2003, the Food and Drug Administration released a consumer alert on an herb known as ephedra. The alert advised the public about the dangers and harmful side effects of ephedra. This alert strongly encouraged consumers to stop their intake of ephedra immediately.
Ephedra has been popular with the Chinese culture for centuries. It has become a household name in the realm of traditional Chinese medicine for its succes in aiding respiratory problems including allergies, bronchitis, colds and hay fever.
An act passed by the World Health Oraganization approved of the effectiveness of ephedra in clinical cases. Ephedra is also a dietary supplement under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.
A popular dye used today in China and around the globe involves boiling ephedra, licorice root, cinnamon twig and almond to create a demulcent and soothing formula for respiratory problems.
Ephedra today is marketed primarily as an energy booster, weight loss supplement and sports performance enhancer. It was thought to be safe and natural since the herb is plant-derived and used in naturopathic and homeopathic medicinal practices.
TrimSpa, a popular weight loss supplement, contains ephedra. Yet reports of seizures, cardiovascular damage, and strokes induced by ephedra have raised concerns about the efficacy and safety of this drug, used freely over the counter. The FDA is currently concerned and questioning the efficacy and safety of using ephedra for these purposes.
Unlinked evidence with its use as a medication and its ability to induce weight loss has called the use of ephedra into question.
It has become a controversial issue in the United States. There have been several fatalities involving ephedra used as a weight control supplement or sports and energy enhancer. Thus many authorities have questioned the relative safeness of this popular herb.
Like any other form of medication, everything should be taken in control and in moderation. Unknown and sometimes excessive use of this herb has caused many people to suffer from severe heart problems that have proven to be fatal.
The concern of today is the public's lack of naturopathic treatment knowledge. It should be known that like any other prescription drug, herbs like ephedra could have potentially dangerous side effects when combined with other supplements or drugs. Also, monitoring dosage is imperative to ensure that there are no ill effects.
The body image hype has increasingly alarmed health officials of the marketing of ephedra for weight loss plans. Studies have shown that the weight lost from the use of ephedra is proven to be only temporary.
The main compounds in ephedra are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. These plant alkaloids are the active ingredients in ephedra.
They interact with the nervous system by communicating with neurotransmitter receptors. In short, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine stimulate the release of norepinephrine. This in turn will stimulate alpha and beta adrenergic receptors, which are responsible for opening the airways.
Other alpha and beta receptors are also linked with heart rate and its contraction speed and strength. Thus ephedra's main components are involved with the circulatory and respiratory working of the body when taken.
This can be problematic when ephedra is taken in reckless dosage. Since it has such an important influence upon the heart as well as respiration, an overdose of ephedra can overstimulate the heartbeat, making it irregular. These heart problems are potentially fatal.
Health officials need to create an educational outreach for the cautious use of ephedra.
Due to its abuse, there must be better controls on this powerful herb. Enforcing physicians' prescription or using ephedra under a controlled and careful setting with a professional who has had experience with this herb is one way to ensure it is not abused.
Marketing and regulations upon the distribution of these products is also ideal to ensure that adverse reactions are prevented.
Ephedra indeed has powerful and useful health advantages, yet like any other powerful medicine, it needs to be taken carefully.
