What is Ephedrine ?

History of Ephedrine

Ephedrine is a chemical structure that is derived from an herb called ephedra or Ma Huang that has been used as traditional medicine in China for more than 2000 years. This herb is widely used in China to treat fever, asthma, cold and other perspiratory symptoms. Currently, ephedrine is also widely used and sold as an over the counter, non-prescription, medicine to treat asthma in the United States due to its effectiveness as an asthmatic aid. Ephedrine produces a type of stimulant which increase body through metabolic stimulation, thermogenesis. Because of the thermogenesis element of ephedrine, many people in the western world use it as a supplemental weight loss aid.

Ephedrine as a weight loss aid

Due to the thermogenetic effects of ephedrine, many people use it as a popular weight loss aid along with a healthy food intake program to obtain effective weight loss results. The thermogenetic effect in ephedrine helps to speed up metabolism in the body by burning fat and transforming fatty acids into energy. Therefore, ephedrine increases the burning of food intake calories by a rapid speed higher than just regular exercise. People reported that taking ephedrine supplements has helped them loss weight more quickly than before without using ephedrine. A study performed in the International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders states that "ephedrine increases the release of brain catecholomines to enhance thermogenesis, without significant cardiovascular effects" and concluded that "varying combinations of ephedrine and aspirin could provide a safe combination with the necessary thermogenetic properties to assist in the management of obesity" This is the reason that ephedrine is a such a popular weight loss aid to combat obesity today.

Sources: Astrup A., Breum L., Toubro S., Hein P., & Quaad F., (1992) International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders.