(I found this information in a CNN news article.) The government has determined that products containing ephedra "present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury," said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan. Ephedra is an herbal supplement that is found in various over-the-counter products designed to help people lose weight or increase their energy, and has long been the subject of criticism. In February, a medical examiner said an ephedra supplement was linked to the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. A study commissioned by the National Institutes of Health also called into safety the use of ephedra, saying it was associated with higher risks of heart palpitations, tremors and insomnia. Other studies over the past year have also suggested links to health problems. The Annals of Internal Medicine reported that, although products with ephedra make up less than 1 percent of dietary supplement sales, it has accounted for 64 percent of the serious side effects that have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in association with dietary supplements. A second study published in the journal Neurology found that the rate of strokes among ephedra users was higher than in nonusers. The supplement users in the study took more than 32 milligrams a day; some ephedra labels recommend almost 100 milligrams daily. Illinois and New York already have banned the sale of products containing ephedra, and Florida banned ephedra sales to minors in May.

The ban was because of hype. When Steve Bechler died, they didn't focus on the fact that he was overweight, and out of shape to the point that he was at risk of losing his job. He was highly stressed about their threats of a job loss, and he was taking more then the recommended dose, and working out very intensely, and (if I remember right) I believe he didn't eat that day either. They also didn't focus on his existing medical conditions, (not good) or the fact he was working out in a very high temperature. When the medical examiner said that ephedra did kill him, but he had not yet performed an autopsy, I though that sounded a little funny. But if you want this put into context, acetaminophen kills 9 times as many people as ephedra did over the same period of time. I am not prone to conspiracy theories, but the fact that the ephedrine caffeine stack was actually proven more powerful at helping people lose fat then prescription drugs might have been a factor. Interestingly pseudoephedrine, which has almost the same number of deaths each year as ephedrine did is still on the market. (Then again Primatene tablets still contain ephedrine, as only the herb was banned.)

Heheheh. The U.S. and their hidden agenda. I take ephedrine occasionally. In doses as high as 50mg and I have noticed no adverse effects. In fact, if you do some reading into ephedra and ephedrine you will find that they are indeed not as harmful as the DEA claims it is. The real reason ephedrine has been banned is because it is an ingredient in the production of Meth-Amphetamine (crystal, ice, crank). I am not going to get overly specific, but methamphetamine synthesis involves several chemicals. Ammonia, Red Phosphorous, and psuedoephedrine or ephedrine. Synthesis from pure ephedrine is much easier, less dangerous and easier to obtain. That is why they banned it. Most Americans don't know it, but meth is an uncontrolled wildfire in your country. The DEA is desperately combatting cannabis because of Canada's decriminalization movements, etc. If they lose cannabis, that is a lot of jobs gone for the DEA. So meth is being put on the backburner. But the addiction is growing. Lives are being ruined. It's growing in popularity. More addicts are stealing, robbing and commiting crimes to get their fix. It's your problem. Next election, try to pick someone who will lay off the harmless drugs and go after the drugs that inspire crime.