Ephedra Still Around Despite Ban

Ephedra, it appears, isn’t going anywhere. Yes, come April 12, due to a recent federal ban, it will disappear from stores and web sites that sell dietary supplements. But it will still be available, widely available in some instances.

The FDA’s ban on ephedra specifically excludes its use in traditional Eastern medicine. Teas, pills and powders containing ma huang, a type of ephedra, are commonly used with acupuncture and other Eastern medicinal practices to treat common ailments such as colds, headaches asthma and chronic coughs -- and still will be, despite the ban.

Even so, there is a clear pattern of serious side effects associated with ephedra use, including rapid heartbeat, insomnia, nausea, headaches, vomiting and urination problems. People with heart and kidney problems are especially susceptible to ephedra.

Poison control centers have reported almost 1,200 cases with side effects associated with ephedra use, while the Food and Drug Administration has linked the product to nearly 90 deaths and 1,500 reports of health problems.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 26, 2004 09:13 AM | TrackBack