Per. 2 Honors Bio
Ephedra is a member of the family of herbs known as the Ephedracae. It has been used in China for more than 5,000 years to treat bronchial asthma, cold and flu, chills, lack of perspiration, headache, nasal congestion, aching joints and bones, cough, and edema. It contains a number of active compounds, including small amounts of essential oils, and most importantly, one to two alkaloids composed mainly of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, with ephedrine ranging from 30 to 90 percent depending on the source.
Both ephedrine and ephedra cause vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the lining of the nose. They also dilate the bronchial tubes and stimulate the heart. Ephedrine the main constituent is a bronchodilator and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Also known as Ma Huang, Ephedra has the ability to open up the adrenergic receptor sites found primarily in the heart and lungs, thereby increasing the metabolic rate and calorie consumption. The net results releases fatty acids from stored fat cells and a quicker consumption of fat into energy. When ephedra is combined with a modest amount of caffeine, the thermogenic effects can be improved as much as 20%. It has been used by a health tonic, a natural stimulant and an appetite suppressant. Its mechanism of activity in this use is the same as the only FDA approved over the counter appetite suppressant, phenylpropanolamine.
Ephedra has valuable antispasmodic properties, acting on the air passages by relieving swellings of the mucous membrane. Pseudoephedrine is a nasal congestant and has less stimulating effect on the heart and blood pressure.
Ma Huang can help the body to break fevers and clear blocked sinuses. The alkaloids are also effective in treating allergic skin reactions such as hives, relieve general body pain and treat low blood pressure, rheumatism and narcolepsy. Because of its stimulating effect on the nervous system, ephedra can be found in some popular weight loss and energy products. For dieters it suppresses the appetite and stimulates the thyroid gland, which stimulates metabolism. A flurry of regulatory and legal activity has surrounded the sale of a mahuang and ephedrine in dietary supplement products. At least nine states have attempted regulatory action on the herb, due to the fact that the alkaloids it contains have been used by illicit methamphemtamine laboratories as starting material for the illegal stimulant drug. But recently ma huang has been the subject of scientific research for obesity because of its thermogenic fat-burning effect on dietary intake. Ephedra can cause peripheral vasoconstriction, elevation of blood pressure and cardiac stimulation, and is often combined with other tonic herbs to help counteract these effects. Ma Huang is also found in energy products that may give athletes extra energy without draining their reserves. Ephedra tends to increase the contractile strength of muscle fibers, which allows body builders to work harder and heavier. People also indicate an increase in alertness and perception. Concerns over the potency of this herb and its isolated alkaloids have prompted increased regulatory scrutiny and industry label warnings. Contraindications include general weakness, poor digestion, nervousness, sleeplessness, cardiac arrhythmia and heart disease. Most people have heard of the abuse of amphetamines as diet pills prescribed by doctors in the 1960s and 70s. Like amphetamines, Ephedra, and the chemical compound ephedrine, can be dangerous if abused. While the cautions for ephedra and caffeine are similar, ephedra has greater cardiovascular activity than caffeine. Ephedra is often combined in diet or energy products with caffeine or a natural caffeine source such as kola nut, guarana, or tea (The history and natural history of Ephedra as Soma by S. Mahdihassan). The combination of these two different types of stimulants can be especially powerful.
2. http://www.kcweb.com/herb/ephedra.htm
3. http://www.ephedra.demon.nl/stories/defin001.htm
4. http://www.crnusa.org/shellnr122000.html
5. www.ephedra.demon.nl/stories/ephedra10.html
6. The history and natural history of Ephedra as Soma, by S. Mahdihassan
