Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances | Ephedra - What Kind of Drug Is It?

What Kind of Drug Is It?

Ephedra plants are yellow cone-bearing bushes that grow in desert areas. The Chinese herbal remedy ma huang (ma-HWANG) is made from the twigs of the ephedra bush. It has been used to treat asthma (AZ-muh), a lung disorder, for thousands of years. Asthma is a disease that involves swelling and congestion in the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe.

Ephedra is a natural source of ephedrine, just as coffee beans are a natural source of caffeine. For nearly a decade prior to its ban by the U.S. government in 2004, ephedra was associated with very serious side effects, including strokes, heart attacks, and even death in some users.