Ma Huang or Ephedra Weight Loss Products
It may be very hard if not impossible to fing Ma Huang or Ephedra in the United States weight loss products now because ephedra (Ma Huang) was banned in the United States in late 2006 for the second time. Ephedra is known by several names one of which is Ma Huang. Others are Mormon Tea, Squaw Tea, Herbal Ecstasy, Desert Tea, Epitonin, and Chinese Ephedra. If you see any of these names on labels of any products you should beware. There have been many deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health issues caused by ephedra products. Over 1,000 reports of hospital emergencies and at least 17 deaths were reported to the Food and Drug Administration from 1997 until 2006 before the ban. Many people have been compensated for their suffering and many more have filed lawsuits with their lawyers and are awaiting their day in court. If you have suffered health damage or lost a family member because of a product which contained ephedra, you should discuss it with a good lawyer in your area that handles cases of this nature. Many of them will give you a free consultation. Ephedra has been proven to do harm when taken in as small amounts as 8 mg per dose. Those with health problems such as heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. should not take anything with ephedra in it. Aspirin (willow bark, salicylic acid, salicytes) and caffeine (kola nut, guarana, cocoa extract) do not mix with ephedra, the combination makes a lethal mixture. There should not be any more products in the United States which contain ephedra but if you should happen to have some or acquire some, you need to discuss the use of it with your doctor before you use it. The numbers are just too large to take a chance with your health or life.
Ephedra was used by the Chinese for over 5,000 years for lung treatment. It was also used by the Mormons, Native Americans, and Mexicans for many years for medicinal purposes. Ephedra has been used as a weight loss product, as an energy booster, as a sports performance booster, for asthma, common cold, cough, bronchial tube and lung congestion, sinus congestion, fever, to stop sweating during illnesses, and other medical reasons. Some of the many side effects reported were heart attacks, strokes, death, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, rapid heart beat, anxiety, tremors, nervousness, hives, allergies, itching, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and many more. If you have suffered any serious side effects from a product containing ephedra or any other supplemental products you should report them to your doctor and your local health department. You can also report them to the FDA Consumer hotline at 800-532-4440.
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