Health Alert 293
A federal judge has recently decided to strike down a major FDA ban. I call it a victory for your right to choose.
The FDA ban revealed a troubling prejudice against natural options. The FDA had banned the use of a naturally occurring herb but left the much more powerful and potentially dangerous drug made from the herb on the market.
The judge cited this fact and the fact that the herb has been safely consumed for hundreds of years to order the FDA to back off.
In today’s Health Alert, you’ll find out why an ancient Chinese herb is back on the market. And how the FDA blundered yet again.
You may remember the media hype over the herb Ephedra last year. As an herb, Ephedra dates back more than 5,000 years. American doctors started using it early in the 20th century to relieve congestion in the lungs and sinuses.(1)
Then Western science found a method to synthesize, patent and mass-produce one of Ephedra’s active ingredients – ephedrine. Today, you can find ephedrine in thousands of products ranging from cold medicines to “pep” pills to keep you alert. This ingredient – not Ephedra the herb – is linked to health problems.
In 2004, in a highly publicized campaign to show you that the FDA was acting to protect your safety, the FDA claimed that Ephedra was too dangerous to remain on the market. Yet the cases they cited involved preparations containing the refined product ephedrine. In April, they ordered Ephedra yanked from shelves across the country.
Thankfully, the courts saw the double standard. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell found that the FDA was wrong to ban Ephedra. As a nutritional supplement, the FDA must prove it is a danger before it can pull it from the market. The judge ruled that the FDA had failed to do this.
If you ever needed more evidence for unfair bias at the FDA, this is a clear example. During the ban of Ephedra, I saw ephedrine everywhere I went. When I walked into gas stations, convenience stores or super markets, I saw products with ephedrine available to anyone at the checkout counter.
This is another example of the FDA failing to protect your health for the sake of protecting one of the most powerful industries in the world.
As an herb, Ephedra is an effective decongestant and stimulant. Ephedra can be used to ease hunger but understand that your normal appetite will come back when you stop using it.
So far, supplement companies are leery over selling this herb again. Understandably, they are concerned by what the FDA may try next. Your doctor can get it now in traditional Chinese formulas.
If you’re interested in Ephedra, talk to your doctor before you try it. And remember it is only approved at a quantity of 10mg per dose. If you take more than that, the stimulation could be equivalent to several cups of coffee.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
(1) Tyler, VE. The Honest Herbal, 3d ed. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1993, 119–21.