Aug 30
2007

Because you will stumble upon the facts and no longer be confused.

Theres a lot of confusion out there about Ephedra andEphedrine and exactly what they are.

I wrote about this a couple years ago and its time to write about it again. Theres a lot of information so pay attention, here we go.

Ephedra is back in the news again.

This time because of a decision last week by a federal court in Utah that struck down the fda ban of Ephedra. First of all, herbal Ephedra was never banned. Ephedrine alkaloidswere banned. Ephedrine is the active ingredient in Ephedra.And Ephedrine alkaloids are the synthetic super concentrated version of Ephedra.

The fda has stated that the ban is still in effect for higher doses(above 10mg) of ephedrine products. And that the agency is considering its options with respect to their next steps.

There is a whole lot of controversy surrounding Ephedra. Because it has been confused and misrepresented by those who are confused about what it is and is not.

Ephedra is an herb which is perfectly safe when used in quantities that meet U.S. mega-dosing laws. Just like its been used in Asian cultures for thousands of years for its health benefits.

And because it is a broncho-dilator the actual herb Ephedra is one of the most widely used and effective treatments for asthma.

Do you really think Asian cultures would use something for thousands of years if it was dangerous? Lets give credit where credit is due.

Because to the misuse of the word Ephedra all of the negative associations of Ephedrine alkaloids have been transferred to the natural herb Ephedra. Including a number of deaths caused by the synthetic Ephedrine alkaloids.

And this is how Ephedra has become demonized.

Pseudo Ephedrine HCL is found in nearly every over the counter cold and decongestant sinus medication.

Pseudo Ephedrine, like Ephedrine alkaloids is a chemically altered form of Ephedra. Most of these over the counter medications have many times the content of concentrated ephedrine alkaloids as compared to weight loss and other nutritional supplements – most of which contain the natural form of Ephedra.

In fact, most medications contain far more Pseudo ephedrine in 2 Pills, because of its concentrated form, than an entire weeks worth of nutritional supplements which contain the natural ephedra.

Dr. Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., Dr. Page has been a Classical Herbalist for almost 30 years and has formulated over 250 effective whole herb combinations, many of them containing ephedra. Dr. Page writes:

“I am continually distressed about ephedra’s misuse and abuse, most importantly the isolated component of ephedra, ephedrine. If herbalists and formulators lose the ability to use ephedra, we are losing one of the best broncho-dilators from the plant kingdom that is extremely valuable when used for asthma and allergies. What then would people have to choose from to alleviate their symptoms? Drugs of course.

So what’s the difference between ephedra and ephedrine? Dr. Page explains that in a whole herb formulation containing ephedra, there may be up to 50 mg of ephedra, containing only HALF a milligram of ephedrine. But the products that isolate ephedrine may deliver up to 20 mg of ephedrine – a full 40 times as much as ephedra!.

Yet, You can walk into any drug store or grocery store to find a few dozen cold, sinus and CHILDRENS products which contain pseudo ephedrine hcl. Yes, thats right 15mg of pseudo ephedrine hcl in a childrens decongestant.

So you are asking yourself “wait a minute, what about all the over the counter medications which contain synthetic ephedrine?, Why aren’t those banned?”

Thats a great question, you’ll have to ask the fda.

Sources:

Jenny Thompson, HSI e-alert Get it right, 4/21/2005

Jenny Thompson, HSI e-alert Circle the Wagons, 1/8/2004

About the Author

Lee Cummings has been helping real people solve real problems and feel better with expert proven nutrition for over 5 years.
For a No cost Report mailto:report@lc-nutrition.com Discover proven nutrition information visit: http://www.LC-Nutrition.com

Written By: Lee Cummings

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Apr 17
2007

Allergy and asthma sufferers have a broad range of improved traditional remedies as well as numerous alternative treatments available to them. Here are some possibilities you may consider. Antihistamines are the most popular treatment for allergies. They can provide relief from nasal symptoms (sneezing, itching, runny nose), eye symptoms (itching, tearing, and burning), and skin conditions (hives, eczema, itching, and some rashes). Prescription antihistamines are Claritin, Clarinex, Allegra and Zyrtec.

Claritin-D is used to relieve hay fever and allergy symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, and red, itchy, tearing eyes. Claritin-D is in a class of medications called antihistamines. It works by blocking histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms. Claritin-D may cause less drowsiness than other antihistamines.

Clarinex is an antihistamine used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis). Clarinex contains a long-acting tricyclic histamine antagonist with selective H1-receptor histamine antagonist activity.

Allegra is indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Symptoms treated effectively were sneezing, rhinorrhea, itchy nose/palate/throat, itchy/watery/red eyes.

Zyrtec prevent sneezing, runny nose, itching and watering of the eyes, and other allergic symptoms. Zyrtec is used to treat allergies, hives (urticaria), and other allergic inflammatory conditions.

Decongestants can help you to relieve congestion from swollen nasal tissues. Remember that Over-the-counter sprays should not be used for more than three or four days in a row, although prescription ones can be used longer. Those with high blood pressure or heart disease should not use decongestants because it can raise blood pressure and cause rapid heartbeat.

Flonase can relieve multiple nasal symptoms of congestion, sneezing, and itchy, runny nose. Flonase Nasal Spray is for topical administration to the nasal mucosa by means of a metering, atomizing spray pump.

Nasacort is FDA approved for the treatment of the nasal symptoms of seasonal and year round allergies such as nasal congestion, itchy runny nose, and sneezing. Nasacort Nasal Spray is an unscented, thixotropic, water-based metered-dose pump spray formulation unit containing a microcrystalline suspension of triamcinolone acetonide in an aqueous medium.

You should also consider Anti-inflamatory Agents. These medications help fight the inflammation that typically results from allergy and asthma. They include nonsteroidal medications, which are topical, as well as topical and oral corticosteroids.

Nasonex is a nasal allergy spray for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergy symptoms. Nasonex helps relieve itchy, runny noses, sneezing and congestion caused by dust mites, pet dander and tree and grass pollen. Nasonex Nasal Spray is a corticosteroid demonstrating anti-inflammatory properties. The Corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of effects on multiple cell types.

About the Author

J. Zorro owns http://www.epharmacypremium.com

Written By: J. Zorro

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Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Nov 24
2006

Initially used to treat wheezing (Asthma), Ma Huang is an herbal plant with the primary active ingredient being ephedrine. Ephedrine accounts for 80 to 90 percent of the alkaloid content of the Ma Huang plant. Ma Huang is commonly available as a whole plant dried and powdered. Teas, extracts and supplements can also contain Ma Huang.

What is Ma Huang used for?

In traditional Chinese medicine, Ma Huang, or ephedra was used to treat colds, asthma, and other upper-respiratory disorders. Ma Huang helps lessen congestion by opening up bronchial and nasal passages. Ma Huang can also speed up the heart rate, raise blood pressure and have a diuretic affect.

Not surprisingly, several manufacturers developed weight loss pills containing the herb Ma Huang. These Ma Huang weight loss pills were marketed as helping people lose weight, enhancing their athletic performance and boosting energy. Ma Huang users reported feeling far more energy, which allowed them to increase their physical activity resulting in significant weight loss.

What happens if you take Ma Huang?

Most people experience no side effects when consuming a weight loss pill containing Ma Huang, providing the level of Ma Huang is low. However, at high doses, some people had serious enough reactions to Ma Huang to warrant comprehensive public health investigations. Serious side effects of Ma Huang usage include elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and interference with heartbeat rhythm and force. In extremely rare cases, there were reports of cardiac death related to Ma Huang usage.

Although still available and in use in many countries, in December 2003, the United States FDA imposed an Ephedra ban on the sale of all ephedra / Ma Huang containing products. Recently, the U.S. lifted the ban, which will now allow the sale of Ma Huang supplements with a daily dosage of 10mg or less. For order information and public availability visit www.EphedraEnergy.com This is the only company that actually offers the legalized pure form that can be safely taken daily. For more diet and supplemental information, visit our trusted partner site at www.DietWeightLossNews.org

About the Author

Todd Brenner is currently the Executive Vice President of Fitness By Design. He serves on the board for A Healthier America and has 18 years of nutritional experience and natural healing. He holds a Masters in Business from University of Louisville. Copyright 2005

Written By: Todd Brenner, MD

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