Effects of ephedra on autonomic nervous modulation in healthy young adults

Nocturnal Difference in the Ultra Low Frequency Band of Heart Rate Variability in Patients Stratified by Kampo Medicine Prescription

“…The ingestion of ephedra dry tract tilted the sympathovagal balance toward increased sympathetic activity. 12, 13 No data, however, on the usefulness of HRV in making a Kampo diagnosis of Yo-or Yin-sho has been published to date. Also, several trials involving objective Kampo diagnosis of Oketsu syndrome have reported that α-sympathetic nervous activity is increased in the Oketsu state.…”

Common phyto-remedies used against cardiovascular diseases and their potential to induce adverse events in cardiovascular patients

“…A plethora of adverse reactions reported included insomnia, nervousness, tremor, headaches, hypertension, seizures, arrhythmias, heart attack, and stroke as well as lethality [11]. Moreover a case report of myocardial infarction in a 29-year-old patient following ephedrine use exemplifies the long-term danger of such products and is the first report of coronary artery aneurysm associated with its use [14].…”

“…This plant has been in extensive use in TCM as an anti-asthmatic and decongestant for 5000 years [11]. In addition, E. sinica, also referred to as Chinese ephedra or Ma Huang, was in common use as a performance enhancer, fat burner, and to manage weight before its prohibition from the United States in April 2004 due to serious adverse effects such as lethal arrhythmias, stroke, vasoconstriction, and myocardial infarction [11]. A multiplicity of dietary supplements containing E. sinica are still in popular use in many western countries despite their prohibition by the Food and Drug Administration in America [11].…”

“…These alkaloids show both direct agonism at the adrenergic receptors as well as indirect agonism by stimulating the release of norepinephrine from presynaptic neurons [11]. Clinical results involve tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis, bronchodilation, agitation, and mydriasis with a retained light reflex.…”

“…Clinical results involve tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis, bronchodilation, agitation, and mydriasis with a retained light reflex. These sympathomimetic effects have been suggested to be responsible for the reported adverse events in human and mortality in animal studies [11].…”