Ephedra Warning - Consult a Physician Before Using Ephedra, Ephedrine, Ma-Huang or Any Diet Supplement.

Ephedra is very effective and is safe to use for weight loss, treating respiratory problems and for enhancing athletic performance slightly. However, like all medications, common sense should be exercised when taking ephedra or any other dietary supplement. Never exceed the recommended dosage as explained on the packaging. Ephedra works in two main ways: raising the metabolism (with an associated rise in core body temperature; this is known as thermogenesis because it literally burns fat, i.e. converts calories to heat) and acting as an adrenaline trigger, which increases the heart rate. While these effects are exactly what you want if you are trying to lose weight with ephedra, it doesn’t take too much thought to realise that a huge rise in heart rate and/or core body temperature is going to be very harmful to your system. Do not be tempted to think that just because a few ephedra pills are helpful for your performance and/or weight loss, a lot will be even better. Don’t be an idiot: stick to the recommended dosage – as with any other medication.

Also remember to maintain good hydration before, during and after a hard workout session, whether you are using ephedra as an energy booster or not. Yes, the thermogenic properties of ephedra mean that you feel hotter, but you should not allow yourself to overheat – drinking will prevent this. If you are using ephedra for weight loss, remember that drinking plenty of good, plain water is another fat loss aid, as it helps reduce your appetite and reduces cravings.

Ephedra is not recommended for children or adolescents, even as an asthma treatment. It is also not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

If you have an existing medical condition such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney problems, etc., or if you are taking other medications, talk to your health professional before starting to take ephedra. If excess weight is your only problem, ephedra will probably be fine to take.

Also bear in mind that some sporting bodies (e.g FIFA) do not permit the use of ephedra or ephedrine as performance booster in competitions. Check the rules pertaining to your chosen sport and use common sense. This even applies if you are using ephedra for an asthma treatment. If you are considering using ephedrine/ephedra for treating asthma, talk to your asthma specialist first if you are unsure how it will affect your other asthma medications.