Ephedra Diet Pills

Ephedra is obtained from a plant that grows in the wild throughout Asia and in some parts of the United States of America. As a matter of fact, the Chinese people have used the substance for centuries to treat all sorts of medical conditions. However, the ancient Chinese commonly referred to it as ma huang.

More recently, though, the main use for ephedra has been as the key ingredient in several products aimed at helping people managing their weight. This is because ephedra contains a powerful component called ephedrine, which has the ability to speed up a person's metabolism and induces a fat-burning process called lypolysis. For this reason, ephedra diet pills were very popular before they were essentially banned.

In addition to the previously mentioned weight loss abilities, ephedrine also promoted physical and mental energy. Besides providing better concentration and the desire to engage in more activities, this extra boost of energy has also been shown to reduce a person's desire to eat. Of course, there have been several serious side effects linked to the use of ephedra diet pills and other supplements containing ephedrine.

Side Effects of Ephedra

Some people who take products that contain ephedrine complain about jitteriness and sleeplessness. More serious side effects have included irregular heart beats, heart disease, and increased blood pressure. Most studies on the dangers of ephedra have shown that the risks are greatly increased the longer the products are used. As a result, many diet pill manufacturers have begun the search for other natural extracts that may have the effects of ephedra without the serious side effects. Synedrine is one such extract, taken from the bitter orange.