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Does herbal diet medicine contain ephedra (Mahuang)?
Ephedra (Mahuang) in herbal diet medicine: what kind of herb it is and who should be careful
Yes. Ephedra (Mahuang) is the main herb in the herbal diet medicine at ACRO Korean Medicine Clinic. Ephedra reduces appetite and increases the body's energy use, so we prescribe it within the dose recommended by the Society of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research and adjust the amount based on any discomfort while you take it.
What kind of herb is ephedra?
Ephedrine, the main component of ephedra, peaks 2–3 hours after taking it and has a half-life of about 6 hours. Most of it leaves the body through the kidneys in urine, and nearly all of it is gone within 48 hours. Because it does not build up in the body, any discomfort that appears while taking it also settles quickly when the dose is reduced or stopped.
We prescribe with extra care for these people
- People taking MAOI-type antidepressants
- People with glaucoma
- People with heart or blood vessel disease
At your visit we first check your existing conditions and the medicines you take, and if herbal diet medicine seems likely to strain your body, we may not prescribe it.
Does ephedra raise liver enzymes?
In 4 studies that looked at ephedra and liver enzymes (2 international, 2 Korean), none found a rise in liver enzymes.
| Research | Participants and duration | Liver enzymes |
|---|---|---|
| International study 1 | 32 adolescents on a diet, 20 weeks | Within normal range at both 8 and 20 weeks |
| International study 2 | 167 adults, 6 months | No difference in ALT·AST versus placebo |
| Korean study 1 | 125 premenopausal women with obesity, 8 weeks | No meaningful abnormalities in blood tests |
| Korean study 2 | Bangpungtongseong-san (contains ephedra), 38 adults with obesity, 4 weeks | No meaningful change in AST·ALT, no serious adverse events |
We have summarized the large study on herbal medicine and liver enzymes overall on a separate page. Herbal Diet Medicine: does it raise liver enzymes?
When does discomfort appear?
Discomforts such as palpitations and insomnia mostly appear in the first 2 weeks and often ease as the body adjusts. In the ACRO medical team's study, recorded discomforts also fell from 127 at week 2 to 81 at week 6 and 73 at week 10. Cutting back on coffee and caffeinated drinks and drinking plenty of water during that time helps.
At ACRO
The herbs used alongside ephedra are chosen differently for each person, and we see you every month and adjust the prescription to any discomfort. We also give you Pyeonan Pill and Sleep Pill to ease constipation and insomnia, and you can ask the medical team about any discomfort right away on KakaoTalk. If you have a doping test or a special blood test coming up, please let us know in advance. View safety & medication care
- Herbal Diet Medicine: does it raise liver enzymes?
- A large Korean study found that herbal medicine prescribed after an examination at a Korean medicine clinic did not meaningfully raise the risk of liver injury.
- What side effects can herbal diet medicine have, and how are they managed?
- The most common discomforts while taking herbal diet medicine are constipation and insomnia, followed by dizziness, palpitations, headache and indigestion.
Related questions
Reviewed by Dr. Lim Joo-hyuk and Dr. Park Ji-seon ·
Studies referenced
- Molnár D et al. Safety and efficacy of treatment with an ephedrine/caffeine mixture: the first double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study in adolescents. Int J Obes 2000;24(12):1573-8. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801433
- Boozer CN et al. Herbal ephedra/caffeine for weight loss: a 6-month randomized safety and efficacy trial. Int J Obes 2002;26(5):593-604. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802023
- Kim HJ, Park JM, Kim JA, Ko BP. Effect of herbal Ephedra sinica and Evodia rutaecarpa on body composition and resting metabolic rate. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2008;1(2):128-38. doi:10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60033-9
- Lee JE, Song YK, Lim HH. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of Bangpungtongseong-san in obese patients. Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research 2010;10(1):1-16