Ephedrine, Ephedra or Ma Huang and other products containing these extracts have according to the FDA, caused hundreds of illnesses, including heart attacks, seizures, strokes and even 15 reported deaths. They are amphetamine-like compounds with powerful and potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and the heart.
Ephedrines act in a similar way as that of adrenaline.
It dilates the bronchial muscles, contacts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure and is a cardiac stimulant. Further these compounds often cause psychological side effects such as depression, nervousness, insomnia, and rapid heart rate. Since early 1990, the FDA has issued numerous warnings to consumers of diet products and supplements containing Ephedrine, Ephedra or Ma Huang. In fact, in November 1994, the FDA informed Alliance U.S.A. that its Nature s Nutritional Formula One posed a potential health hazard and was in violation of federal laws designed to protect the public health and even issued a recall of their products due to their combination of Ma Huang and caffeine containing Kola Nut. Alliance later removed the caffeine containing Kola Nut and was allowed to continue to sell its new product.