Ephedrine and Its Effect on Weight Loss Essay - 1379 Words

Ephedrine and Its Effect on Weight Loss The Dilemma It is dilemma that affects the world over, its scope nothing short of the earths 25,000 mile circumference. However, in certain cultures it is a more significant issue than in others. Nevertheless, it can affect every aspect of our lives, driving many even to suicide. Few, if any, are naturally invincible to its hidden wrath. This invisible, yet potent dilemma is obesity, or simply weight control. In countries, such as the United States, weight control is a common, yet, dire issue. Especially, in a society where thin is in, but for many, so are fatty foods and infrequent exercise, there is a huge and growing demand for quick, easy schemes to lose weight. However, the true†¦show more content†¦In Western terms, ma-huang is considered to have diaphoretic, diuretic, central nervous system stimulating and antiasthmatic activity. The stem (herb) of ephedra contains a number of active compounds, including small amounts of an essential oil, and most important, one or two percent alkaloids composed mainly of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, with ephedrine ranging from thirty to ninety percent depending on the source. Alone, ephedrine is a very powerful amphetamine-like compound. However, as Mark Blumenthal editor of HerbalGram and executive director of the American Botanical Council, was quoted...as saying that he has used the stems and twigs of the Chinese herb ma-huang as a cold remedy for twenty years. He pointed out that the effects of ephedrine, a stimulant alkaloid in ma-huang should not be confused with the whole herb itself. This is a good example of how the effects of a whole herb and its isolated constituents must be considered separately. One should not confuse ephedrine and pseudoephedrine with ephedra, just like one shouldnt confuse pure caffeine with coffee. http://www.smartbasic.com/glos.herbs/ephedra.html Its Side Effects The effects of ephedra are generally attributed to the alkaloid ephedrine which... http://www.smartbasic.com/glos.herbs/ephedra.html mayShow MoreRelated The Atkins Diet Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pagesincreasing use of diet pills that contain ephedrine, there is controversy as to the affects these diets will have on people’s health. The most common and advertised diet today is the Atkins Diet. It’s known as the low carbohydrate diet and is known to help people lose great amounts of weight over a rather short span of time (Atkins, 2001). (The diet focuses on four nutritional principles: weight loss-cutting down sufficiently on the intake of carbohydrates, weight maintenance-determining level of carbohydratesRead More The Miracle Cure or Nightmare Drug? 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