Researchers Conclude Ephedra Products Should Be Restricted or Banned

The dangers associated with the ingestion of ephedra, an herbal stimulant found in many weight loss supplements, warrants either an outright ban of the substance or tighter restrictions on the sale of products containing the herb, a recent study concludes.

Researchers found that individuals who used ephedra were 100 times more likely to experience an adverse event compared to people who ingested other herbal supplements. The study, which was posted on the Annals of Internal Medicine Web site in February, will appear in the March 18 issue of the publication.

Ephedra, which is also known as ma huang, is …