What are ephedra, Ma huang oral dosage forms?
EPHEDRA, MA HUANG is a dietary supplement (herbal remedy). Ephedra is usually promoted for weight loss and boosting energy. However, there is no FDA-approved medical use for this herb at this time. Most products that contain Ephedra, Ma Huang (ephedrine) also contain other herbal products. Many products also contain caffeine or herbal sources of caffeine (like guarana or kola nut). The safety and effectiveness of these combination products have not been established. NOTE: The FDA has alerted the public in December 2003 that dietary supplements containing ephedra present an unreasonable health risk of illness or injury. Consumers are urged to stop buying and using these products immediately. The FDA intends to ban the sale of Ephedra products by March 2004. Ephedra, Ma huang is available from many different manufacturers of dietary supplements.
