Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Ephedra The Safety Factor
Mainstream medical researchers insist pseudoephedrine, the related chemical used in commercial cold preparations, is safer than ephedrine. Scientific herbalists agree, but they insist the whole ephedra plant is safer than either ephedrine or psuedoephedrine. In Herbal Medicine for Everyone, British herbalist Michael McIntyre writes that pure ephedrine “markedly raises blood pressure …. But the whole [ephedra] plant actually reduces blood pressure.” German medical herbalist Rudolph Fritz Weiss, M.D., maintains that the whole plant “has certain advantages [over suedoephedrine]. Above all, it is better tolerated, causing fewer heart symptoms such as palpitations.”
The ephedra/pseudoephedrine issue remains unresolved Anyone who has high blood pressure should consult his physician before using this herb. Also, he should invest in a home blood pressure device to self-monitor his condition. If you have one, you can check ephedra’s effects. If the herb lowers your blood pressure, your physician will probably give you the go-ahead to use it. If it raises your blood pressure, don’t use it. Anyone with heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, or an overactive thyroid gland [hyperthyroidism] should exercise caution and not use ephedra.
Ephedra often causes insomnia. People with sleep problems should not take it late in the day.
Finally, ephedra causes dry mouth. Increase your nonalcohol fl uid intake when you use it.
The Food and Drug Administration considers ephedra an herb of “undefined safety.” For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, or overactive thyroid, and who are not taking other medications that raise blood pressure or cause anxiety or insomnia, ephedra is considered relatively safe when used cautiously for short periods of time.
Ephedra should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If ephedra causes insomnia, nervousness, or stomach upset, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Competitive athletes should be extremely cautious regarding the use of ephedra. For example, it is on the United States Olympic Committee’s list of banned substances.
A Weird Plant
Ephedra is not a garden herb. It is an odd-looking, botanically primitive, almost leafless shrub that resembles horsetail. It has tough, jointed, barkless stems and branches, with small scale-like leaves and tiny yellow-green flowers that appear in summer. Male and female flowers appear on different plants. Seeds develop in cones.