MaHuang,
also known as Chinese
ephedra, has been around for
centuries. Initially used to treat wheezing (Asthma),
MaHuang is an herbal plant with the
primary active ingredient being
ephedrine.
Ephedrine accounts for 80 to 90
percent of the alkaloid content of the
Ma Huang plant.
MaHuang is commonly available as a
whole plant dried and powdered. Teas, extracts and supplements
can also contain
MaHuang.
What is
Ma Huang
used for?
In traditional Chinese
medicine,
MaHuang, or
ephedra was used to treat colds,
asthma, and other upper-respiratory disorders.
MaHuang helps lessen congestion by
opening up bronchial and nasal passages.
MaHuang can also speed up the heart
rate, raise blood pressure and have a diuretic affect.
Not
surprisingly, several manufacturers developed
weight loss pills containing the herb
MaHuang. These
MaHuang
weight loss pills were marketed as
helping people lose weight, enhancing their athletic performance
and boosting energy.
MaHuang users reported feeling far
more energy, which allowed them to increase their physical
activity resulting in significant
weight loss.
What happens if you take
Ma Huang?
Most people experience no side
effects when consuming a
weight loss
pill containing
MaHuang,
providing the level of
MaHuang
is low. However, at high doses, some people had serious enough
reactions to
MaHuang
to warrant comprehensive public health investigations. Serious
side effects of
Mahuang
usage include elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and
interference with heartbeat rhythm and force. In extremely rare
cases, there were reports of cardiac death related to
MaHuang
usage.
Although still available and in
use in many countries, in December 2003, the United States
FDA
imposed an
Ephedra ban
on the sale of all
ephedra
/
MaHuang
containing products. Recently, the U.S. lifted the ban, which
will now allow the sale of
MaHuang
supplements with a daily dosage of 10mg or less.
For order information and
public availability visit
www.EphedraEnergy.com.
This is the only company that actually offers the legalized pure
form that can be safely taken daily.
For more information on
recommended
diet pill
sources, visit
www.DietWeightLossNews.org.
For public
availability information on
ephedra,
you can visit
www.EphedraEnergy.com.
The information in these articles is not to be
used as medical advice. As always, you should seek the advice of
a physician before consuming any diet pill(s) and starting a
diet.
