Ma Huang for Weight Loss

Ma Huang (or mau huang) is a desert shrub that originated in China and was originally used to treat asthma patients because it dilates the bronchial tube and helps supply more oxygen to the lungs. It also has stimulant and appetite-depressant properties, gaining popularity as a weight-loss aid during the 1990s. Botanically, it's known as Ephedra sinica. The herb was banned by the FDA in 2004.

History and Use

• We know that ephedra has been used for more than 5,000 years in China, typically in a tea beverage given to those who suffer from coughs, asthma, headache, common cold, and hay fever. Native Americans introduced the Mormons to ephedra when they came to Utah, and they substituted it for coffee and tea, earning the nickname Mormon tea. It was said to cure syphilis and gonorrhea, although this was not proven.

  During the late 1990s, it became extremely fashionable to take the herbal potion for its stimulant properties. It created thermogenesis, or fat-burning, raised the heart rate and blood pressure, and suppressed appetites, much like other amphetamines.

Concerns and Problems

• The FDA banned ephedra in 2004, after the administration had received many reports of adverse reactions. these ranged from mild effects such as dizziness, jitters, raises or drops in blood pressure, nervousness, headache, and gastrointestinal distress to severe chest pain, heart attacks, stroke, psychosis, and even death. There were 32 deaths blamed in whole or in part on this drug. In 2003, Major League Baseball pitcher Steve Bechler died after working out in extreme heat while using ephedra. The medical examiner found that ephedra contributed to the heatstroke that killed him. Concerns with interactions with prescription drugs and over-the-counter products seemed to be at the forefront of the controversy surrounding ephedra.

Today's Ephedra

• Although Ephedra sinica has been banned in the United States since 2004, there is a close relative, Ephedra viridus, also called American Ma Huang, that wasn't banned. It is being sold today in many weight-loss preparations and "stacker" varieties--pills that are combined with other diet aids such as hoodia, caffeine, and aspirin. The newer ephedra formulations are legal because they do not contain any ephedrine, which is the substance that was banned by the FDA, and is found in Ephedra sinica. Since it's ephedrine that stimulates the central nervous system and causes weight loss, the effectiveness of these new supplements is questionable.
  People wishing to lose weight would be best served by speaking with their doctors and getting on a reasonable weight-management program that involves healthy eating and exercise.