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Ephedra, ephedrine, Ma Huang
SummaryEphedra, also called Ma Huang, is a naturally occurring substance derived from botanicals. Its principal active ingredient is ephedrine. It is a dietary supplement that was used by people to lose weight. But, using it carries significant health risks. It has been banned by the FDA. DescriptionEphedra is a shrub-like plant that is found in desert regions in central Asia and other parts of the world. It is a stimulant containing the herbal form of Ephedrine. This stimulant promotes weight loss by increasing your body's metabolism and thus burning more calories. It was also use an an energy booster and for increased athletic performance. Ephedrine is also found in some over-the-counter Asthma medications. HistoryEphedra use was popular in the mid to late 1990s and into the new millennium. On February 17, 2003 Baltimore Orioles' baseball player, Steve Bechler died. His death was linked to Ephedra use. By the end of 2003, the FDA started cracking down on Ephedra. The FDA cracked down on Ephedra, requiring that warning labels be placed on bottles. It was linked to the death of a professional baseball player, Baltimore Orioles' Steve Bechler. CriticismEphedrine has been shown to have serious adverse effects, include hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitations (rapid heart rate), neurophathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, memory loss, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, and death. Also, studies have shown that Ephedrine-based supplements only provide short-term weight loss. Tags: fat-burner pill stimulant supplements Related Diets: Xenadrine RFA-1 Lipo 6 Fenphedra Xenadrine EFX Hot Rox |
Comments:
| Anonymous | posted 1-Jun-2006 10:19am I was on ephdra for quite a while and now I have an anxiety disorder and cannot consume much caffeine, on top of the doctors told me that the amount of weight loss pills I took slowed down a naturally high metabolism. I had never really had a weight problem, now I can't keep it down. Ephedra needs to be banned for good. |
| Anonymous | posted 22-Jun-2006 1:44pm I used Xenadrine RFA-1 before it was banned from the market and I lost almost 100 lbs in less than 7 months. So people can say what they want about Ephedrine but it works. Sure the side effects were horrible and they included Shortness of breath, double vision, vomiting, and increased heart rate but to me it was all worth it. The only reason people died from it is because the idiots did not follow the instructions and overdosed. |
bill | posted 22-Jun-2006 2:14pm Were you able to keep the 100 lbs off when you stopped taking Xenadrine? |
| Anonymous | posted 4-Jul-2006 6:38pm I must say I lost 60 pounds when I was Xenadrine RFA-1 and I did gain some of the weight back when I stopped taking it. I did only because I cannot buy it anymore and do I wish I had that same body again. |
| Anonymous | posted 18-Jul-2006 5:29pm Two words, IT WORKED. For me anyway. I was on the Xenadrine with ephdra before it was banned and lost a lot of weight. I have kept it off since. Side effects were, accelerated heart rate, and working my butt off, because I had sudden bursts of energy. I couldn't sit still. |
| Anonymous | posted 22-Jul-2006 7:16pm I've taken several supplements containing Ephedrine over the past 6 years and it DOES work! Side effects were: insomnia, rapid pulse, and sometimes headaches, and loss of apetitie but they were not severe enough for me to stop taking the pills. I did manage to keep the weight off. |
| Anonymous | posted 24-Jul-2006 4:18pm i love 75 pounds on the ephedra stacker 3's but they banned it when i got pregnant with my 2nd daughter and now i have the weight back |
| Anonymous | posted 7-Aug-2006 11:55pm i loved ephedra. I still love it. thank you internet. |
| Anonymous | posted 18-Nov-2006 8:13pm i miss the ephedra so much- i cannot find a pill to replace it-so if anyone knows tell me- i lost so much weight on ephedra and had so much energy- i need that energy back to help me loose weight. |
| Anonymous | posted 19-Jan-2007 11:54pm I CAN NOT EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I LOVED XNEDRINE RFA 1. I lost losts of weight and it was so easy. I can't find the pills any where and have used everything else...paying top dollar but never finding anything that even comes close. It gave me energy, decreased my appetite and burned fat! If anyone knows where to get the stuff please post on the site. |
| ernie | posted 20-Jan-2007 12:34pm i agree, The RFA was the bomb....I also miss the stacker 2. I use superdrine now which is almost the same as RFA (so they say). It actually works opretty good for me. losdt 9 pounds in 2.5 weeks...i buy it at arnoldsupplements although last time i checked they were backordered,. |
| ernie | posted 20-Jan-2007 12:40pm just checked...looks like they have it back in stock.. http://www.arnoldsupplements.com/Superdrine_RX_10_Diet_Pills_p/agl-003.htm also, has anyone ever used Trim MAxx? my friend says she uses it. it's a "dieters" tea. She just started. I didnt want to buy any before i got some feedback. Anyone? thanks again...ern |
| Anonymous | posted 21-Jan-2007 11:44am You can find the ingredient list for Xenadrine at http://www10.epinions.com/content_91556580996 and it says: Xenadrine RFA-1 contains the following ingredients: Pantothenic Acid [40 mg], Bitter Orange [85 mg], Ma Haung 335 mg], Guarana Extract [910 mg], White Willow Bark Extract [105 mg], Ginger Root [50 mg], Proprietary ThermoSynergist Blend – which includes L-Tyrosine, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Fisetin, Magnesium Phosphate, DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) [225 mg]. There are several inert ingredients that are also in this supplement blend: Calcium Phosphate, Talc, Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate. but would be better to read a real label from a Xenadrine bottle. Don't know if the dose is 1 or 2 capsules for the above list. |
| Anonymous | posted 4-Mar-2007 1:49pm I used rfa for a year and lost 40 pounds, I used to look so good, and cannot find anything that even comes close to it. Please suggest something to help me lose weight again, i run, exercise diet, and nothing works like rfa did, HELP |
| Anonymous | posted 11-Mar-2007 1:12pm i bought some stimerex with epehedra online and i have lost 4 pounds this week. i too used to take xenadrine rfa1 and this honestly seems stronger. |
| Pharmacist | posted 27-Mar-2007 5:35am All medications have side effects. Even taking too many Naturopathic vitamins or drinking too much water results in death. WBR LeoP |
| Pharmacy Man | posted 29-Mar-2007 2:39pm The FDA is corrupt. Look at all the money they spend on campaigns to rush things through. They own the presidency and most of the congress and senate WBR LeoP |
| dave2163 | posted 29-Apr-2007 10:18am ive takin ephedra product for 20 years and i think its great,other than some side effects.the people that ruined it for everybody else is the idiots taking 6 at a time and really obusing it. |
| dave2163 | posted 29-Apr-2007 10:20am can you by ephedra and is it really banned yet? |
| Curious | posted 19-Jun-2007 6:46pm Anyone know where I can find anything comparable to Xenadrine RFA-1? |
| Anonymous | posted 20-Jul-2007 8:43pm i took stacker 2 with ephedra. they were the miracle pill. i absolutley loved what it did for me. i lost almost 60 lbs in 6-7 months. i loved it. then like everyone else said, people abused it and were stupid about them and took them wrong, drank no water, didnt eat on them. and ruined it for everyone else. this govt stinks. ciggs are legal, alcohol is legal. just sucks, im still searching websites to find it. cant find anything. IF ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO FIND ORIGINAL YELLOW STACKER 2'S PLEASE PLEASE EMAIL ME. simjes96@optonline.net |
| NATIVEDOLL | posted 25-Jul-2007 11:07am WE SHOULD START A PETITION AND UN-BANN EPHEDRA AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE A GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO TAKE. THIS JUST P I S S E S ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!! |
| NATIVEDOLL | posted 25-Jul-2007 11:08am DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THE JUICE DIET STARS TAKE. I HAVE IT AND I THINK ITS WORKING BUT I WANT FASTER RESULTS. I WANT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT DOESNT MAKE ME NEED IT LIKE THE OTHERS. SOMETHING ALL NATURAL/ORGANIC. |
| rach | posted 19-Aug-2007 11:34am I worked for GNC for about five years and i have heard thousands of stories of weight loss with xendrine rfa-1. I too took it and was fine in fact i took it for about ten years and never had any major health problems then when they banned it i came down with sever adult asthma. Chinese use ephedra for asthma. I wonder why i did not get it any sooner:) I wish they would sell it agian. I have several bottels that are nearing there exp date so I will start searching...any leads on the real stuff? let me know...rachusa1@hotmail.com |
| Ms.Tbaby | posted 9-Nov-2007 4:41am I started taking Yellow Jackets strictly for the energy, I worked midnights and thanks to Ephedra and the extra boost of energy it gave me, I received several promotions. I did purchase a bottle of Yellow Swarm off the net, now I'm searching for some more, and the prices have sky rockected, Do anyone know if there are any signatures being collected to bring Ephedra back on the market? I'm down to my last 10 pills, I don't know what I'm going to do!!!!! |
| Sabrina | posted 10-Nov-2007 1:59am I have some pills that I have had for quite some time now, still unsure if I should take them or not, it has 25mg called Liprodrene, I took it once it made me jittery and my heart felt a little weird, but I want to lose weight so badly. Any suggestions? email me at brigurl88@comcast.net. Also check out my myspace at www.myspace.com/brigurl88 |
| Anonymous | posted 17-Feb-2008 2:09am I have taken about all of the new herbal diet pills on the market and none of them work. The Ephedra is what made them work. I have always been able to take the Ephedra based diet pills and keep my weight under control and I love the way they made you feel. I had all kinds of energy. I would be the first one to sign a petition to bring the Ephedra based diet pills back!! If they are so worried about people being obese in America,I say give up back our Ephedra!! |
| CINDYC | posted 21-Feb-2008 4:48pm HELLO ALL, YES I STARTED TAKING SOME EPHEDRA, AND LIKE SOMEONE ELSE STATED, ALL MEDICATIONS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. I BOUGHT MINE AT THE GAS STATION SUPERAMERICA. IT IS SOME KIND OF ASTHMA MEDICINE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK thepublishedauthor@yahoo.com |
| Anonymous | posted 22-Feb-2008 3:36pm I took Metabolift with Ephedra and I was never happier. I didnt drink alcohol, I was working out every other day and eating healthily. I had great energy. I loved it. It made me jittery after a while and depressed so I quit taking it, but if I could get some now, Id just take it to lose the weight and then once in awhile to maintain. It was the best thing ever. I've been even more depressed and I drink alcohol now, because Im so upset that I cant seem to lose weight like I once could with Metabolift. People who had problems with it, should stop taking it... but why ban it from others who truly had good results and loved taking it. |
| Person | posted 25-Feb-2008 5:21pm I just started taking Ephedrine. I researched it a lot first and waht I found was that the 'official' line is that it can cause heart problems, strokes, death etc, which made me worried. But then I read a lot of comments from people who have actually used it, and most of the reviews of ephedrine are good. I would have thought if there were a lot of people experiencing terrible effects they'd be the first ones to post on websites warning people off it and complaining. but the vast majority of feedback I've read has been good, so I am more inclined to believe that some people have taken it irresponsibly, and because it is a relatively 'new' drug in the west, any bad reactions get exagerrated and people panic. I've found that only 100 deaths have been 'linked' to ephedrine. When you compare that to the amount of people using it, not to mention the amount of alcohol related deaths, smoking related deaths, etc, I wouldn't think it is much to worry about, as long as you take it responsibly. My own experience has been good- I have so much energy and don't feel hungry. It's the perfect diet aid. It doesn't miraculously make you lose weight while still eating whatver you want or anything, it just seems to make you want to do that exercise and cut down on food when before you didn't have the motivation. After taking it for three days, I met some friends and they all commented on how much weight I'd lost. True, I had some trouble sleeping, and my heart does sometimes seem to beat fast. I also experienced a 'rushing' sensation taht made me nervous, but I think that's because I was concerned about some of the dangers I'd read about. I've also read that people take it for recreational purposes- with loads of caffeine or other drugs, and a lot of it at a time. I expect it is these sorts of users who give the pill a bad reputation. I found mine on astronutrition.com. Good prices, and amazing service. they shipped to the UK in less thna a week. They are Canadian based I think and ship to most of the States as well. |
| Medical Professional | posted 12-Mar-2008 11:03am FYI, in 17 years in practice, I've found that 84%, YES 84% of my patients who are addicted to meth began by experimenting with diet pills containing Ephedra. Whether it's "all natural" Ma huang or "snythetic" psuedo-ephedrine, it has the same side effects. Does it work to suppress appetite and help in losing weight? YES. Is the potential for tolerance, abuse, and addiction worth those few extra pounds?? NO WAY! REMEMBER folks, anything that seems too good to be true, generally is. |
| Anonymous | posted 28-Mar-2008 9:40am I want diet pills......I LOVED the adipex my dr. gave me it was the ONLY think that has ever helped me curb my cravings. Thats my problem, I am an emotional eater, I eat when i am bored...tired....these pills made me "zoom" i felt awesome, it actually lifted my spirits. I agree with you others, the only reason some people died from it was because they didnt take it like they should have. |
| Anonymous | posted 7-Apr-2008 9:08pm I buy 8mg ephedra in Canada over the counter and have friends that have had excellent results. Losing 30+ lbs in 3 weeks and have not gained it back. No exercising! |
| AnonymousSouth | posted 15-Apr-2008 5:25pm I definitely missed what Ephedra can do for you. I found some online and have been taking it for 5 days now. My excercise is minimal. Yoga about 3-4 days a week for an hour. I started at 210lbs and I am 5'7. Right now I am taking no more than 2/day. I am drinking nothing but water and I'm not a smoker. I eat basically the same, just much smaller portions. I have added on more veggies as snacks though. To date I don't know If I've lost anything but I'll keep you posted. |
| Bipolar Gym Girl | posted 18-Apr-2008 10:09pm I have Bipolar but I took the ECA stack anyway. Lost 16lbs with healthier eating and exercise in 3 months. But Bipolar got way worse and doctor got pissed off at me.... now i'm really missing the drug. I can't seem to do any kind of exercise as well as I could while i was on it because i'm not used to eating much. I'm in a rut, trying to decide if i should go back on it but not as often and not tell doctor and hope i'm ok until i lose the last 15 lbs. Otherwise, i'm sitting around withdrawing and now starting to feel more depressed. Blah! |
| Anonymous | posted 22-Apr-2008 1:20pm I have taken ephedra for YEARS and now that I am older..I really need them. I get so depressed and I keep gaining weight I feel like I am missing out on life with out it. GIVE US BACK OUR LIVES.... |
| Anonymous | posted 26-Apr-2008 11:22am where can i buy Ma Huang tea????? |
| Anonymous | posted 3-May-2008 9:47pm There has to be a way to get ephedra back... maybe someone should start some sort of petition. I know that there are SO MANY people who wold sign it. I mean the fact of the matter is that yes many people did on it, but if you figure the ration of how many people who took it, to how many died, its minuscule! Not only that, but I'm sure those people didn't follow the label, as most people think they know better. If thats the case, its their fault not ours... why should we suffer?! America is The most Obese Country in the world, we shouldn't be banning supplements that are helping them. |
| Mikey | posted 21-May-2008 2:01pm I took Xenadrine for a couple of months in 2000 and I lost 30 lbs. I loved RFA-1 and I am so depressed that they don't have it anymore. I took less then the recommended dosage and still lost weight. Now after having two children I have put the weight back on. I have a naturally slow metabolism and this is the only thing that worked for me. |
| lady 1st | posted 22-May-2008 8:03pm please tell me where to getr any stacker 3 or the old xenadrine with ephedra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Frustrated no more! | posted 28-May-2008 5:36pm Well Ladies and Gentlemen, I've found what you're looking for... It's a company based out Canada, but the prices online are in British pounds I think??? Anyway, they have a product called Herbalean w/ Ephedra which they claim to be "Original Xenadrine RFA-1 Formula" either way, they have a bunch of Ephedra products listed. Hope this helps! |
| Frustrated no more! | posted 28-May-2008 5:41pm Sorry, too fast on the mouse! Try centurysupplements.com Thanks! |
| Anonymous | posted 28-May-2008 8:39pm Well I used to buy Proenzi 99, it's a "nasal decongestant" but it is 8 mg of ephedra none the less. I used to pay $15 for a one months supply at the grocery store. I just found this website out of Canada, livepurehealth.ca (but they can't ship it to the US) and they sell Ephedrine 8mg for $4.49 a bottle! and if you buy multiples, it's even cheaper. $5.95 flat rate shipping under $99, and free shipping over $99. Sorry it doesn't help those of you in the US... |
| Anonymous | posted 8-Jun-2008 7:27am I found a website that ships from the USA and has all the products mentioned above. Try thatwholesale.com or any inquires sales@thatwholesale.com Good luck |
| Anonymous | posted 10-Jun-2008 7:39pm Just confirmed centurysupplements.com cannot ship to the US and had to issue me a refund they said because of FDA regulations. Can anyone post were we can purchase ephedra and we can get a shipment to the US ? |
| Holly | posted 12-Jun-2008 7:00pm Hey there, I'm another Ephedra user way back when it was legal. Back in High School, when I was a Freshman, I was teased and bullied all the time by all my skinny peers. I became depressed, and eventually suicidal. My mother, who was obese as well (it's genetic in my family, and unfortunately causes diabetes and other horrible health problems), decided to let me have Diet Pills. Well, first thing we did was run to WalMart and purchase a bottle of MetaboLife, which had Ephedra in it. I started taking it, two in the morning. The first thing I noticed was increased energy. I started walking all over our small town, on the beach, hiking, bike riding, even attended the Gym. I wasn't hungry as much, unlike the times I'd tried SlimFast diets, so the fat practically melted off. I was when starting out 250 lbs at age 15, and one and a half years later, I reached 120 lbs. I was so happy, not as depressed, though I have bipolar disorder, and living a "Normal" teenager's life. I had only one bad episode on it, and it was entirely my fault. I had taken 4 pills, two extra cause I was in a hurry and thought I needed the boost, plus a cup of coffee. The only thing that happened was the fast heart rate, dizziness, and feeling flushed. NOT a bad thing, against the side effect of most medications and OTC stuff. Well, Then I hear the FDA banns it from all products, and now, as my metabolism has returned to the Slow turtle pace, I can't lose the weight I want, I'm back to 170 lbs, and want to return to 125 lbs, especially after having a tummy tuck and thighplasty last April. I want to look and feel good about myself, instead of hiding under baggy clothing, and hating the image in the mirror. It's unfair that those idiots who did die or have severe reactions, most likely due to their own actions of abusing Ephedra, and cause the majority of us, who love it, to suffer it's loss. They legalize cigarettes (which kill hundreds of people each year), Alcohol (which more people die from alcohol related fatalities than most street drugs), Caffeen (which is just as addictive as nicotine, and can cause grave problems for people sensitive to stimulants) and even allow medical used Marijuana. I say let those who abuse and misuse Ephedra pay the price, just like those who get cancer from smoking, or cirrhosis from drinking, and let the rest of us live happily with our slim bodies (made possible to those who's metabolism runs slow), and self confidence! |
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