Why was the herb ephedra banned from North America?

Answer 1

Ephedra or Ma Huang has been part of the Chinese materia medica since before Jesus. However, like any medicine, it has it's recommended uses. Ma Huang is usually used in Chinese medicine to treat symptoms of influenza caused by exposure to too much wind and cold. These symptoms are joint pain, cold skin, and headache. Part of Ephedra's effects are to cause urination and perspiration.

Unfortunately the problem started when non-Chinese doctors started using Ephedra for purposes OTHER than the time-honored indications. Some people would market Ephedra as a cure all. Others would try to use Ephedra for weight loss due to the urination and perspiration. The problem is that Ma Huang or Ephedra isn't supposed to be used for other things other than treating flu symptoms. Hence, patients would get increased blood pressure, kidney problems and others.

But do they blame the people who misuse it? No, they blame the poor, misused herb.

Answer 2

because americans like to go overboard with everything!
Ok, relax, i'm not bad mouthing my own kind, but if we weren't so consumed with our appearances and what not, the Ephedra craze would not have gotten so far out of hand. What ever happened to eating healthy and exercising instead of poppin a pill??
Also, because ephedra products became so popular, the loser druggie makers decide its a great ingredient to use to make methamphetamines, so now its even more popular!
The biggest portion of it being banned was due to the related deaths of people who used it, and died from complications of taking it.. For some reason, people think they can just pop pills and not take into consideration "side affects", yet these companies making these diet products and stuff will say and do anything to advertise to make a person think its a miracle pill. Being that none of them were ever FDA approved, made it for a bad mix in society, and with people so eager to get a quick fix and lose weight fast, many of those people who died did not take it according to directions. ..They tried to limit the age of people purchasing ephedra items, but that still didn't work, young teenage girls would either get someone else to buy it or steal it for themselves. I think too many lives were lost and the government didn't act fast enough on the matter..
AS you can see, i have jaded views for many reasons, I get very angry at companies who make these kinds of prodcuts without doing proper testing and getting fda approved. Secondly i get angrier that retailers are so quick to want to make a buck or two that they carry these products and advertise them just as much as the manufacturer.
Thirdly, I get angry at the consumer for not doing research and for trying to choose a quick fix for a situation that didn't come on over night. I'm talking about people who gain weight over some time and actually beleive a pill can take it all away. Fourthly (if thats even a word) the government took way too long to put regulations into place. Let me remind you that this craze started taking place a good 12 years ago..

Answer 3

Ephedra is still available today, you can purchase it from a number of sources. I believe, the prohibition, is against, including it, in a weight loss formula, and marketing accordingly.

I have been taking ephedra, along with guarana, a synergistic agent, for years. It has had a dramatic impact on my ability to breathe. I was diagnosed with ECOPD, and offered nothing, but useless inhalers. Now my symptoms are minimal. I have been able to exercise and loose weight.

Ephedra, is an extract of Ma Huang, an ancient Chinese herb. It has been used, for breathing disorders, for over a thousand years.

Answer 4

Here's a short summary. Spring Break a couple of years back, a teen aged kid was driving to Florida when he popped just one tab of ephedra and had a massive heart attack.It also creates impotence when mixed with alcohol. And to top it all off, it was used as a shortcut to methamphetamine.

Answer 5

no longer something is misguided with banning it, in actuality as a fashion to circumvent Sharia regulation extremist Islam from getting into any section and attempting to take over the subculture, rules, and customs, burqa ought to be banned. Turkey did this and it worked wonderful for an prolonged time - and so as that they placed listening gadgets into each mosque interior the country as a fashion to circumvent Sharia regulation extremist Muslims from utilising the mosques as breeding grounds. each mosque interior the worldwide ought to be built with listening gadgets to circumvent such happenings. because it is now, they are getting used as colleges for coaching Sharia regulation extremism everywhere in the USA of a, England, Canada, Europe, Australia, and so on. i think of that is too late via the time people quite settle for that it is what is going on, and end being so ridiculously politically the excellent option and blind and in denial approximately it.

Answer 6

I believe it had to do with a series of bad side effects as well as deaths, including those in professional sports, like 23 year old pitcher for the Orioles Steve Bechler.

Answer 7

Because its effects are similar to 'speed'. It can cause severe de-hydration, raises your body temp, causes/aggravates heart problems, and various other things. Can be pretty bad stuff if you don't look after yourself and keep close control of your doses. Also it can have the psychological addictiveness of 'speed' people love the high it gives them and they crave more and more...

Answer 8

cause ephedra govament says you cant sell it

Answer 9

like someone else said it has similar effects of speed. The main reason that it was banned in the US is because it causes abnormal heart rthymes and eventually heart attack.