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Regulatory ban. This ingredient is banned or restricted in one or more countries. See Regulatory Status below.
About
Ma Huang containing ephedrine alkaloids — adrenergic agonists with potent cardiovascular and CNS stimulant effects. Banned as a dietary supplement in the USA (FDA 2004), EU, Canada, Australia, and most global jurisdictions following deaths from cardiovascular adverse events.
How it works (mechanism of action)
Ephedrine acts as sympathomimetic amine — releases norepinephrine and stimulates alpha and beta adrenergic receptors. Strong CNS and cardiovascular stimulant.
⚖️ Regulatory Status
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MY — Banned
NPRA Malaysia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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ID — Banned
BPOM Indonesia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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ID — Banned
BPOM Indonesia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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IE — Banned
HPRA prohibition (2004).
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IE — Banned
HPRA prohibition (2004).
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SG — Banned
HSA Singapore prohibition (2004) — ephedra alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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SG — Banned
HSA Singapore prohibition (2004) — ephedra alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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IT — Banned
Italian Ministry of Health — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited under EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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IT — Banned
Italian Ministry of Health — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited under EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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SE — Banned
Livsmedelsverket Sweden prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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SE — Banned
Livsmedelsverket Sweden prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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SA — Banned
SFDA Saudi Arabia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited. Controlled as prescription drug.
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SA — Banned
SFDA Saudi Arabia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited. Controlled as prescription drug.
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AE — Banned
UAE MOH prohibition — ephedra supplements banned. Ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical.
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MY — Banned
NPRA Malaysia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
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NL — Banned
NVWA prohibition (2004).
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NL — Banned
NVWA prohibition (2004).
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NZ — Banned
Medsafe NZ — ephedrine alkaloid supplements banned following FDA and TGA action.
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NZ — Banned
Medsafe NZ — ephedrine alkaloid supplements banned following FDA and TGA action.
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PH — Banned
FDA Philippines — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid-containing food supplements banned following international regulatory action.
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PH — Banned
FDA Philippines — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid-containing food supplements banned following international regulatory action.
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PL — Banned
GIS Poland prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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PL — Banned
GIS Poland prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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PT — Banned
ASAE Portugal prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
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PT — Banned
ASAE Portugal prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
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DK — Banned
Banned (2023) — Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). Liver toxicity and thyroid disruption reports. All preparations ordered off market.
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AE — Banned
UAE MOH prohibition — ephedra supplements banned. Ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical.
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BE — Banned
FASFC Belgium prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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BE — Banned
FASFC Belgium prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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CA — Banned
Health Canada ban (2002) — all ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid-containing supplements.
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AU — Banned
TGA ban (2003) — cardiovascular adverse events. Ephedra alkaloids banned from complementary medicines.
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CH — Banned
Swissmedic prohibition (2004).
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CH — Banned
Swissmedic banned kava in Switzerland due to hepatotoxicity.
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US — Banned
FDA ban (2004) — cardiovascular adverse events and deaths. Final rule 21 CFR 119. All ephedrine alkaloids banned from dietary supplements.
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US — Banned
FDA ban (2004) — cardiovascular adverse events and deaths. Final rule 21 CFR 119. All ephedrine alkaloids banned from dietary supplements. [source ↗]
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DE — Banned
BfArM prohibition (2004) — Ephedra sinica and ephedrine alkaloids prohibited.
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DE — Banned
BfArM banned kava-containing products in Germany in 2002 due to hepatotoxicity risk. Cases of liver failure and death reported.
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DK — Banned
Banned (2023) — Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). Liver toxicity and thyroid disruption reports. All preparations ordered off market.
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ES — Banned
AEMPS Spain prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
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ES — Banned
AEMPS Spain prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
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EU — Banned
European Commission ban (2002) under Directive 2002/46/EC — all ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements. [source ↗]
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EU — Banned
European Commission ban (2002) under Directive 2002/46/EC — all ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
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FR — Banned
ANSM prohibition (2003) — cardiovascular adverse events. Ephedrine alkaloids from plant sources banned.
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FR — Banned
ANSES recommended ban of kava following hepatotoxicity signals from nutrivigilance system.
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AT — Banned
AGES Austria prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
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AT — Banned
AGES Austria prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
⚠️
ZA — Restricted
SAHPRA (2004) — Schedule 2; pharmacist oversight required.
⚠️
TW — Restricted
TFDA Taiwan — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical drug. Not permitted as health food ingredient. Products with ephedra claims require pharmaceutical registration.
⚠️
ZA — Restricted
SAHPRA (2004) — Schedule 2; pharmacist oversight required.
⚠️
TW — Restricted
TFDA Taiwan — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical drug. Not permitted as health food ingredient. Products with ephedra claims require pharmaceutical registration.
⚠️
TH — Restricted
FDA Thailand — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical. Not permitted in food supplements.
⚠️
TH — Restricted
FDA Thailand — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical. Not permitted in food supplements.
⚠️
KR — Restricted
MFDS South Korea (2003) — maximum dose restrictions. Not permitted for weight loss products.
⚠️
KR — Restricted
MFDS South Korea (2003) — maximum dose restrictions. Not permitted for weight loss products.
⚠️
JP — Restricted
MHLW Japan (2003) — maximum dose limits; not permitted for weight loss marketing. Ephedrine controlled under pharmaceutical regulations.
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JP — Restricted
MHLW Japan (2003) — maximum dose limits; not permitted for weight loss marketing. Ephedrine controlled under pharmaceutical regulations.
⚠️
IN — Restricted
CDSCO India (2004) — available only under prescription as pharmaceutical products.
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IN — Restricted
CDSCO India (2004) — available only under prescription as pharmaceutical products.
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HK — Restricted
Department of Health Hong Kong — ephedrine-containing preparations controlled as pharmaceutical products. Not permitted as health food supplements without pharmaceutical registration.
⚠️
HK — Restricted
Department of Health Hong Kong — ephedrine-containing preparations controlled as pharmaceutical products. Not permitted as health food supplements without pharmaceutical registration.
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GB — Restricted
MHRA (2004) — ephedrine alkaloid supplements restricted. Maximum doses apply under the Medicines Act.
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GB — Restricted
MHRA (2004) — ephedrine alkaloid supplements restricted. Maximum doses apply under the Medicines Act.
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CN — Restricted
NMPA China — Ma Huang (ephedra) controlled. Ephedrine alkaloid content restrictions; not permitted for weight loss products. Export of ephedra controlled internationally.
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CN — Restricted
NMPA China — Ma Huang (ephedra) controlled. Ephedrine alkaloid content restrictions; not permitted for weight loss products. Export of ephedra controlled internationally.
💊
CA — Prescription only
DHEA is a controlled substance in Canada, available by prescription only.
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AU — Prescription only
DHEA is scheduled as a prescription-only medicine in Australia (Schedule 4).
👥 Safety by Population
🚫 Contraindications & Warnings
BANNED as dietary supplement in USA (FDA Final Rule 2004), EU, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, Netherlands. Causes tachycardia, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, seizures, and death. 155+ deaths and thousands of adverse events reported before FDA ban. Contraindicated with MAOIs, sympathomimetics, caffeine, heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disorders, diabetes, glaucoma, psychiatric conditions.
🏷️ Other Names
Ma huang
Ephedra sinica