Ephedrine, also known as ephedra or ma huang, is a stimulant originally derived from an Asiatic shrub. The substance is frequently included in diet supplements, but has recently come under fire for its potentially fatal side effects.

View a second image of the ephedrine sulfate crystallites.

Taken from its natural source, the ephedra plant, ephedrine has been used for medicinal purposes in China for thousands of years. However, the substance is now more often produced by chemical synthesis, marketed in the form of its salt, ephedrine sulfate. The substance, which has a molecular structure similar to amphetamine, works primarily through the release of excitatory chemicals called catecholamines. The catecholamines act on cellular receptors found in numerous body tissues and are responsible for stimulating lipolysis, dilating bronchioles, decreasing appetite, and increasing heart rate and alertness. Ephedrine is sometimes used for its positive effects in medications that treat asthma and congestion.

The controversy surrounding ephedrine has been spawned by reports of dangerous side effects that may be connected to the deaths of some consumers. When artificially synthesized or combined with other synergistic stimulants, the potential for adverse reactions, including nervousness, hypertension, nerve damage, heart rate irregularities, tremors, strokes, heart attacks, and respiratory depression, may increase. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate ephedrine, they have issued a warning to consumers to avoid supplements that include ephedrine and are marketed as an alternative to illegal street drugs, such as ecstasy.