Ephedra Products: They're Back, But Will be Gone Soon

Ephedra: It's back!

The supplement was banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004. But Ephedra products are back, for a short time. You may have seen them on web sites or in your local independent health food store. It can be bough "under the counter" at your area GNC, if you know the right people. A few products containing ephedra are back on the market again. Whether these products are being sold legally is under debate.

Nutraceutical Corp to Ephedra Products Rescue

The supplement maker Nutraceutical Corp., some of whose products contained ephedra, sued then-FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford over the ban. In April, a federal District Court judge in Utah ruled that Nutraceutical could sell products that contain 10 milligrams or less of ephedra.

"The suit is not about the safety of ephedra but about FDA setting new standards for putting safe products on the market," Nutraceutical President Bruce Hough. "You can't wholesale ban a supplement unless you have good scientific facts behind it."

Even so, dietary supplement trade associations urged their members not to jump back into the market with ephedra products. Lawyers will see to it that big companies will never make the product again. They are easy targets for the ambulance chasing types. Its like trying to argue against manmade (in particular USA manmade) global warming. Evidence is not enough. Science is not enough.

There's a question of whether low doses of ephedra are even effective for weight loss. All the evidence is based on taking 60 to 100 milligrams per day. Why would anybody think that 10 milligrams has any effectiveness in weight loss? History has shown that this amount is safe. Just make usre you are not over dosing on caffeine to get the ephedra.

Some pill now have 300 mg caffeine split between as many as five different sources. Read the label. Listen to your body's response. Don't chase your ephedra products with caffeinated drinks. Use your head.

Teens will not benefit from ephedra use. Period.