Ephedrine

Ephedrine Information

Generic Name: Ephedrine

Other Common Names: Ephedra, Ma Huang

Ephedrine is a herb that grows in the arid regions of the world and is also known as: Mormon Tea, Ma Huang, Squaw Tea, and Herbal Ecstasy. There are other minor sources, such as Sida cordifolia. it is best known for its main component Ephedra.

Chinese traditional medicine have been using ephedrine, extracted from ephedra, for more than 5,000 years to treat the afflictions of the lungs, and it is still primarily used to relieve nasal congestion (blocked nose), and can raise the blood pressure. The main active chemical component of ephedra is ephedrine, a beta-adrenergic agonist (increases heart rate and body temperature.) Different strains of the herb contain different concentrations of ephedrine. The Chinese version is the more potent of the strains.

Ephedrine is a powerful stimulator that increases metabolism. Ephedra has been used widely to treat many conditions such as the common cold, asthma, and congestion of the bronchial tubes. Research conducted on ephedrine has shown that it has interesting implications for bodybuilders, weight-trainers, and athletes. Some of the effects are:

weight loss
metabolizing (burning) fat
and muscle maintenance.

Ephedrine has been shown to increase the effectiveness of thermogenesis (fat burning) in the body. It has powerful effects on the cellular mechanisms that control fat release from fat cells. Some of these effects include contributing to the release and blocking the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This gives norepinephrine the ability to continuously stimulate receptors in your body, causing fat cell "flood gates" to open and facilitate fat loss.

How Does Ephedrine Work?

Ephedrine is a stimulant that works on the adrenergic receptors of the central nervous system. It has been shown to increase the level of dopamine, which is a precursor to both epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are vital neurotransmitters. Dopamine is also an important neurotransmitter around the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that is important for body arousal. Unlike caffeine, which exerts many of its benefits in muscle tissue, ephedrine appears to work primarily on the central nervous system.

Ephedrine inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine, a hormone secreted by the medulla of the adrenal glands, that acts as a neurotransmitter. The sympathetic nervous system functions in response to short-term stress; hence norepinephrine, whose levels are boosted by ephedrine, increases the heart rate as well as blood pressure. Other actions of norepinephrine include increased glycogenolysis (the conversion of glycogen to glucose) in the liver, increased lipolysis (the conversion of fats to fatty acids) in adipose (fat) tissue, and relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle to open up the air passages to the lungs. All of these actions represent a mobilization of the body's resources in order to meet the stressful challenge; such a response is often termed the "flight or fight" syndrome.

Basically, ephedrine keeps your body in "combat" mode for extended periods of time, facilitating weight loss.

Ephedrine Side Effects

Ephedrine Precautions and Contraindications

As with any thermogenic weight-loss pill, you should consult your doctor before taking ephedrine, especially if you have a previous history of health problems.