ephedra and ephedrine

[kanute]

can someone please explain to me the difference between ephedra and ephedrine? I thought that ephedrine is in ephedra. which is better as far as results, not safer!

[BG5150]

Much of the confusion about ephedra lies in the unwillingness or inability of the media to make the simple distinction between ephedra and ephedrine. In the e-Alert "Jekyll and Hyde" (1/16/03), HSI Panelist Linda Page, Ph.D., explained the difference between ephedra and ephedrine. In a nutshell: Ephedra is a broncho-dilator that herbalists value as a natural and effective alternative to asthma and allergy drugs. Ephedrine is the active constituent of ephedra.

In a 50 mg dose of ephedra (which Dr. Page describes as an "effective dose") you're getting 0.5 mg of ephedrine. But certain products that isolate and boost ephedrine (as most of the weight-loss products do) may contain as much as 20 mg of ephedrine - 40 times the amount that you get in the natural herb. As Dr. Page points out: "No wonder there are problems!"

So when you hear about athletes, for instance, who have died while taking ephedra, you can be just about certain that they weren't taking a 50 mg dose of ephedra, but a boosted ephedrine product that can be dangerous when not taken as directed. Nevertheless, ephedra is blamed for these deaths, and now this herb is about to be banned for the sins of its hyped-up cousin, which in most of the fatal cases was used recklessly.

From: http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/02/03/ephedra_ephedrine_what_difference.htm