Ephedrine Tablets
Ephedrine tablets are made from an organic compound (Ephedra) that is notable for its use in dieting products, particularly dieting pills. Ephedrine (Wiki) can be derived from plants within the genus Ephedra of which the most popular is Ephedra Sinica, or more popularly known as Ma Huang (Wiki). As such, this compound is not synthetic in nature but purely organic. This herb has been used in China for hundreds of years for its medicinal properties. It was used for respiratory ailments as well as common ailments like the Flu or the Cold. It is also a noteworthy appetite suppressant.
Today, most of the world's supply of ephedrine comes from China. The component that makes it quite effective as a nasal decongestant or for asthma is pseudoephedrine. Structurally, ephedrine bears some resemblance to methamphetamine's which are the primary component to illegal street drugs like Ecstacy, Ice and Meth. It is primarily a thermogenic (Wiki) stimulant that increases the heart rate, metabolic rate and produces heat in mammals. Interestingly enough, thermogenesis is also how hibernating animals maintain body temperatures during their long slumber. During the process, most of their fat reserves are consumed, which is why thermogenic fat burners are quite popular for dieting purposes. As thermogenesis forces our body to consume more energy, it also promotes the oxidation of our fat reserves.
However, this process is not unique to ephedrine tablets as a wide variety of plants and substances also promote thermogenesis within the body. You probably even consume them regularly (Caffeine, ginger, capsicum etc). They are hugely popular within the body building community as well as those looking to combine ephedrine tablets with a weight loss regimen. Much of the time however, you'll come across dieting "stacks". "Stacks" are dieting pills that contain a combination of fat burning ingredients to increase effectiveness. They can be considered a more aggressive form of diet pills as they are combined with any number of ingredients that include caffeine, green tea extract and aspirin. Unfortunately, ephedrine tablets are banned outright in the United States due it being linked with a few deaths.
Proponents of ephedrine usage believe that the main reason America banned the substance is because it can be used to mimic the effects of methamphetamine's. As such, it can be used in illegal street drugs. This has spawned a number of ephedrine-free fat burners like Hydroxycut and Xenadrine. In Canada however, they are legal to buy over the counter. In the UK, it is a controlled item but can be purchased with a prescription via a pharmacy. This is also true for South Africa. There are also side effects that come with ephedrine tablet usage. Firstly, those that are pregnant or have diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, heart based ailments and hypertension should never consume this product. Additionally, those taking antidepressants are advised to avoid ephedrine tablets as well. Secondly, because ephedrine affects our nervous system, there are a number of possible side effects that may occur after consumption.
Side effects include agitation, insomnia, restlessness and nausea. Always stick to the recommended dosage levels as side effects will increase with higher dosages. If you plan on looking for a small boost to your dieting efforts, ephedrine tablets are a good option. However, ensure that you have a healthy eating plan and exercise regimen as taking these supplements alone will usually do you little good.
Was This Article Helpful?
