It's About Time
And on a more medical note:
U.S. Bans Ephedra, Drug Linked to Deaths
I. Hate. Ephedra. The stuff should have been taken off the market before this. It's also known as
ma huang, the original Chinese name of the herb. It's a powerful amphetamine-type drug, which will curb the appetite but will also increase one's blood pressure and heart rate. I've seen people come in with full-on atrial fibrillation and sky high blood pressure due to this stuff, and that's if they're lucky. Some have had strokes and heart attacks.
Remember, people: just because it's a "supplement" doesn't mean it's safe. Same goes for anything "natural." (A well-remembered med school professor of mine used to have a favorite riposte to this argument: "Poison ivy's natural, but that doesn't mean it's good for you!")
If the FDA doesn't pass it, I don't trust it. Granted, that's not a perfect safeguard either (anyone remember
Baycol?), but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing.
posted by Dr. Alice at #
