Ephedrine HCL was once the staple ingredient in many weight-loss supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned ephedrine in weight-loss supplements in 2004. Ephedrine HCL is still available as a bronchodilator. It is often combined with other substances, including aspirin and caffeine, to replicate the old weight-loss product. Using Ephedrine HCL has been found to be slightly effective in short-term weight loss, but the health risks far outweigh the benefits.
Ma Huang
Ephedrine was first used in ancient China. Ma Huang, the plant from which ephedrine HCL is extracted, was used to treat lung problems.
Weight Loss
Ephedrine HCL has the ability to raise the body's temperature, as well as suppress appetite. For these reasons it became a fairly effective weight-loss ingredient, finding its way into many thermogenic products in the late 90s and early 2000s. Thermogenics are marketed as having the ability to literally burn fat by raising the body temperature.
Effectiveness
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that ephedrine has short-term benefits regarding weight loss, but the health risks associated with taking such a supplement for weight loss far outweigh any potential benefits.
Warnings
Side effects of taking ephedrine HCL include heart palpitations, nausea, high-blood pressure, restlessness, irritability, heart attack, stroke and even death, according to the Journal of the . These risks should not be taken lightly, and ephedrine HCL should not be used as a weight-loss miracle drug. Proper diet and exercise are the only safe and effective ways of losing weight and keeping that weight off.
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