Diet
Rx has no ephedra. A
combination of hoodia,
ginger, cinnamon, green tea extract, spirulina, acetyl-l-carnitine, choline,
guggul, and several
other herbs and nutrients, as found in
Diet Rx, a very effective
herbal diet pill for appetite suppression. Users of Diet Rx have lost several pounds within a week or two.
FREE Diet Rx Bottle
Alkaloids in ephedra
Ephedra’s main active medicinal
ingredients are the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The stem contains 1–3%
total alkaloids, with ephedrine accounting for 30–90% of this total, depending on the
plant species. Both ephedrine and its synthetic counterparts stimulate the central nervous
system, dilate the bronchial tubes, elevate blood pressure, and increase heart rate.
Pseudoephedrine (the synthetic form) is a popular over-the-counter remedy for relief of
nasal congestion. Little research has been done on using the whole plant (compared to its
isolated alkaloids) for any condition.
The crude powdered stems of ephedra (with less than 1% ephedrine) are used at 1–4 grams per day in tea form. Tinctures of 1–3 ml three times per day can be taken. Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine can be used by adults at 10 mg every 8 hours. Adults should take no more than 30 mg every twenty-four hours.
Besides ephedra, herbs and
supplements to lose weight
Guarana may work in combination with
Yerba-Mate and damiana.
Green tea extract may be
effective in some people as a weight loss pill. You can purchase
Green-Tea-Extract here.
Caffeine is often found in weight loss pills but I personally don't like my
patients taking extra caffeine since it can cause increased heart rate and
anxiety. Most people already consume enough caffeine through coffee, tea, sodas,
and chocolate.
Ginger may be helpful in some people but higher doses are required.
Hoodia has become quite
popular over the past few years. You can buy
Hoodia-Extract
here.
Alpha lipoic acid
may also reduce appetite but it is primarily used as an antioxidant.
5-HTP is a nutrient that
helps curb appetite in some individuals.
CAUTION
Abuse of ephedra (and particularly ephedrine) — especially for weight loss or as
a recreational drug — can lead to amphetamine-like side effects, including elevated
blood pressure, rapid heart beat, nervousness, irritability, headache, urination
disturbances, insomnia, dry mouth, heart palpitations, and even death due to heart
failure, stroke, or irregular rhythms. One study has shown that a single dose of ephedra
caused mild elevation of heart rate but did not consistently affect blood pressure in
otherwise healthy adults. When taken at higher levels, ephedra can cause drastic increases
in blood pressure, as well as cardiac arrhythmias. Ephedrine is considered potentially
habituating, though it is unclear if the whole herb
ephedra is likely to do the same
thing. Ephedra in high doses may increase the risk for
stroke.
Anyone with a medical condition (particularly hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, anxiety, thyroid disorders) or taking medicines or other supplements should consult their physician before taking ephedra.