Ephedra sinica, also known as Ma Huang, is a Chinese herb is perhaps one of the better known to the Western world for its properties of instilling a sense of well being to its user. As an herbal tea, Ephedra has been used as a health tonic in the Orient for centuries, as well as a natural stimulant with short term and temporary appetite suppressing effects. But its major significance to weight-watchers is in its believed thermogenic effects, i.e., the way in which the body burns fat and makes heat through caloric "burn." More specifically, the deposits of brown adipose tissue or brown fat cells [brown fat cells = good fat cells] can burn their weight in white fat [white fat cells = bad fat cells] every 12 hours, if nutritively "turned-on" to do so! This herb is touted as being nutritionally capable of helping the body to do this!

Ephedra contains the precursor to the drug-like substance, ephedrine, a natural stimulant, which acts to increase the body's metabolism and accelerates caloric burn through the slight rising of body heat. By itself, ephedra's stimulating effects are milder than caffeine, but as a fat-burner, it is much more powerful. And interestingly enough, the effects of Ephedra appear to increase over time. Less and less is needed to instruct the body to burn more and more fat! This herb is thought to have been effective in breaking the so-called "fat set-point" for those experiencing weight plateaus, because it continues to increase thermogenesis the more one uses it! Ephedra has been found to be useful in complementing the body's natural procedures of dissolving and mobilizing fats in the bloodstream, making them available for energy use.Some helpful caution should be used by those who are currently on prescribed drugs such as antidepressants (MAO inhibitors), or medication for diabetics, pregnant and lactating women, angle-closure glaucoma victims and prescriptions for thyroid disease. Those taking any of these should consult their Doctor before self-administering.

Ephedra is currently banned in the United States.