Ephedrine was in the beginning described in western literature in 1888, as a naturally occurring element of the ephedra plant, together with pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine acts as a direct as well as an indirect sympathomimetic. It is an alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor agonist. But it also prompts the indirect release of norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons, impeding norepinephrine reuptake and dislodging more norepinephrine from storage vesicles.
In fact, Ephedrine is one of the four active components of the herb Ephedra. It is known to induce fat loss by way of increasing the amount of fat available for fuel along with boosting heat expenditure. It has been associated with improving the metabolic rate by up to 5% in humans. It has also been known to spawn some side-effects in a few instances, and its legal status changes by region.
Composition of Ephedra
Ephedrine is found in the Ephedra Sinica plant, commonly called Ma Huang or Chinese Ephedrea. This differentiation is vital since there is a full genus known as Ephedrea in the family Ephedraceae, and the ephedrine alkaloids promoted fat burners are only existing in Sinica. Ephedra on the whole consists of more than 50 species and is found all over the world. Many are acclimatized to semiarid and desert conditions, even if a few are found in humid or temperate climates in the Mediterranean and North America.
When you buy ephedrine tablets with an aim to lose weight, you should note that they are actually Ma Huang (Ephedra Sinica), the one sold as a fat burner. It is composed of the following:
- Ephedrine alkaloids (prominent fat burning compounds, mainly in Ephedra Sinica, distachya, equisetina, monosperma and gerardiana.
- Cathine (d-norpseudoephedrine) and derivative ephedroxane.
- Cyclopropyl analogues of amino acids (glutamate) containing (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-methanoproline in the stems and leaves of varied plant species. Along with the seeds in huge amounts. Not in the stems or leaves of Ephedra altissima or Viridus.
- (2S,3S,4S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl) glycine, a cyclopropyl compound which is an agonist of a few glutamate receptors (MGluR2, MGluR3) and found in great amounts in Ephedra antisyphilitica (0.5% by stem weight). The associated compound (2S,3S,4R)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine could further be psychoactive; and is found in the berries of Ephedra foemina.
- Kynurenate compounds (6-hydroxykynurenate, 6-methoxykynurenate, 7-methoxykynurenate) are mostly in the stem, but not in the root. Plus, have the parent compound of kynurenate acid (4-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid) at concentrations around 1% dry mass in Ephedra fasciculata and funereal.
- Proanthocyanidin compounds, and the tannin compounds ellagitannins and gallotannins.
Ephedrine appears to be a more potent stimulant during periods of caloric restriction, compared with higher caloric intakes. So, bodybuilders and people who are overweight prefer to buy ephedrine tablets for daily use.
The Final Thoughts
Ephedrine appears to be synergistic with caffeine and theophylline. A dose of 22mg/30mg/50mg ephedrine/caffeine/theophylline has been proved to be twice as effective as ephedrine alone. Additionally, when compared to varied combinations of ephedrine and caffeine a dose of 20mg/200mg has been proven to be the most synergistic. This discovery resulted in the rise of the ECA stack, that is a stack of ephedrine/caffeine/aspirin that is dosed 20mg/200mg/91mg respectively.