Ephedra Viridis
Ephedra Viridis is more widely known as Mormon tea and it is a small to medium size shrub which has jointed needles that range from 2 to 12 inches in length. The shrub looks like a weathered , stunted pine. The limbs are barkless and are a grayish blue with spike like tips or they are bright yellow green or dark green in color. The flowers and fruit of the Mormon Tea are green cones that will become brittle and brown when dry. The ephedra viridis will bloom and mature in the early spring or late winter and is located in the Big Bend, Texas, mountainous deserts, or the Corners region of the United States. It is called Squaw Tea by the Native American Indians. The shrubs grow in arid areas. There are other species of ephedra which grow in China and other areas of the world. Those are called Chinese Ephedra, Ma Huang, Herbal Ecstasy, and Epitonin. The ephedra plant is a stimulant which has been used for over 5,000 years by the Chinese and for many years by the Mormons and the Native Americans and Mexicans. It was used for medicinal purposes for lung problems. Today the ephedra was being used for weight loss, as an energy booster, to enhance sportsmen performance, asthma, and bronchial tube congestion. It may have been used for other medicinal purposes as well.
The big problem with ephedra is that there were people suffering from heart attacks, strokes and even death from the use of products containing ephedra. Other side effects reported are insomnia, rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, nervousness, tremors, seizures, high blood pressure, and others not listed here. There were too many people suffering from serious side effects which prompted the Food and Drug Administration to act and get the ephedra banned in the United States. Some of those who suffered from the Ephedra have been compensated for their bad experiences with ephedra.. If you have experienced any serious side effects from any product which contained ephedra you should contact your doctor as soon as possible and you can also contact your local Health Department and the FDA Consumer Hotline at 800-532-4440. Any and all serious side effects should be reported to a doctor or someone who can make sure it is recorded. Ephedra was banned in the United States in late 2006 so it is possible to maybe find a few bottles of ephedra based products still on the market. Some companies are trying to sell out their products they had on the shelves instead of just destroying them. Some people are still trying to get the ban lifted but the FDA has enough evidence of too many people suffering from the ephedra based products that it may not get lifted this time.
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