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Ephedra

Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is a plant that contains ephedrine alkaloids that stimulate the central nervous system. It has traditionally been used to treat respiratory and nasal conditions by expanding breathing passages and constricting blood vessels. More recently, it has been used as a weight loss supplement and performance enhancer by athletes. However, ephedra poses significant health risks like hypertension, stroke, and death. While some studies found ergogenic effects at higher doses, the risks are considered too great. As a result, the FDA banned ephedra supplements in 2004.

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254 views9 pages

Ephedra

Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is a plant that contains ephedrine alkaloids that stimulate the central nervous system. It has traditionally been used to treat respiratory and nasal conditions by expanding breathing passages and constricting blood vessels. More recently, it has been used as a weight loss supplement and performance enhancer by athletes. However, ephedra poses significant health risks like hypertension, stroke, and death. While some studies found ergogenic effects at higher doses, the risks are considered too great. As a result, the FDA banned ephedra supplements in 2004.

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Ephedra

By:Kaitlin Meade
What is Ephedra?

AKA ma huang
Contains ephedrine alkaloid - stimulates the CNS
Used mainly as a decongestant

What does it do?

Expand breathing passages


Constrict blood vessels
Increase arterial BP
How has it been used?

Notoriously known as an herbal supplement in weight loss products


Athletes have been known to use it for reducing their fat to muscle weight
ratio
Students have used it to stay awake to study
Truck drivers
Used in amphetamine/hallucinogenic drugs ie ecstasy
History

Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 5000 years


Ephedra plants have been reported being used since 1500 B.C. in India
Mormon tea
Synthetic form as a treatment for arthritis in 1930
1940s - used more aggressively for asthma
Only recently been discovered as a thermogenic
Benefits

Known as the supplement that can curb your appetite, increase your energy
levels, and cause your metabolism to speed up
Thermogenic - calories burned in order to generate heat
Used to treat medical conditions such as asthma, cough, bronchitis, allergic
rhinitis, sinusitis, and nasal congestion
BUT are there really any benefits at all in the athletic realm?
Side Effects

Irritability Hypertension
Restlessness Rapid/irregular
heartbeat
Insomnia
Stroke
Headaches Seizures
Nausea Addiction
Vomiting Death
Urinary problems
Research

Banned by FDA in OTC drugs in May 2004


Low doses of ephedra have been proven not to give ergogenic effects in
multiple studies (Sidney and Lefcoe, Cycle ergometry time trial, more recent
study of pseudoephedrine, etc.)
Walton study and another study found increases in power output during
cycling tests
Threshold dosage level may exist to reap ergogenic effects
Ephedra and Caffeine
So what?

Too risky, no matter what the dose


The consequences have a high likelihood of outweighing the benefits
References
Magkos, Faidon and Stavros A. Kavouras. "Caffeine and Ephedrine: Physiological, Metabolic and Performance-Enhancing Effects." Sports
Medicine, vol. 34, no. 13, Oct. 2004, pp. 871-889. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=14752603&site=ehost-live.

Ehlers, B. E. (2001). The History of Ephedra. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from
https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/8852148/Ehlers.html?sequence=2

Ehrlich, S. D., NMD. (2016, February 2). Ephedra. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/ephedra

Publications, H. H. (2004, March). Why the FDA banned ephedra. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/ephedra-ban

Eichner, E Randy. "Stimulants in Sports." Current Sports Medicine Reports, vol. 7, no. 5, Sept. 2008, pp. 244-245. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e318186bf44.

Peters Jr, Ronald J., et al. "Beliefs and Social Norms about Ephedra Onset and Perceived Addiction among College Male and Female Athletes."
Substance Use & Misuse, vol. 40, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 125-135. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=16133242&site=ehost-live.

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