What does ephedra do to the body?
The alkaloids in ephedra stimulate the nervous system in a way that increases heart rate and causes blood vessels to constrict (become narrower). This also causes blood pressure to rise. Herbal preparations of ephedra also enlarge bronchial passages (which makes it useful for asthma), induce perspiration and increase urine production (diuretic). Ephedra’s use as an aid to weight-loss is due to its thermogenic (literally “heat-making”) effects on metabolism, inducing an obese body to burn more fuel than it otherwise would. This effect is raised when one combines ephedrine with caffeine. However, it should be noted that caffeine stimulates the nervous system in ways quite similar to ephedra (heart rate, blood vessels, etc). Ephedrine also lengthens the time a meal stays in the stomach, which may help reduce the amount of food eaten. Decades of widespread use have shown no indication of addiction to ephedra. There is some evidence that initial increases in pulse rate, blood pressure and s
