These supplements are those that contain ephedrine or it's original herbal source, Ma Huang. Plants containing ephedrine alkaloids originate in Asia and have been used in medicinal tonics for millennia. Today they are still used in allergy and asthma medications. One of ephedrine's primary effects is to dilate the bronchial tubes so you breath easier. This is due to it's antihistamine action on the body. It stops mast cells from producing histamine which plague us with allergy symptoms.

Another major effect of ephedrine is psychomotor stimulation. It acts as an amphetamine. Early studies were conducted to try to keep the ephedrine circulating in the body longer before being destroyed so the effects could be prolonged. The best studies found caffeine and aspirin to enhance the stimulant effects and extend time before breakdown.

Due to being a strong stimulant, your body elevates to a heightened level of activity. Your heart beats faster, your mental acuity sharpens, your adrenal glands place you in state of fight/flight response. Because of this increased metabolic activity, you burn more calories. Studies have consistently reproduced positive results in weight loss and supplement companies have been quick to convince the public that it's nature's best answer.

Anyone who has taken these supplements often called thermogenics, ECA stacks, fat burners, or a myriad of slick product titles, love them or hate them. Those that had a bad experience may have incurred stomach upset, massive jitters, insomnia, and anxiety. Those that liked the supplements found the increased mental alertness, stamina, and overall feeling of euphoria to be priceless. When no longer taken and you're dropped back into a "normal" state of consciousness, some return to them no longer for the supposed weight loss effects, but the stimulant effects. It's easy to see why amphetamines are so addictive.

The fat loss truth about these supplements, however, is a bit shady. Most studies have been conducted with at least 100 mg. of ephedrine per day and up to 200 mg. To show discernable weight loss over a placebo, these levels must be maintained for a prolonged period. This much ephedrine in combination with the synergistic addition of caffeine, aspirin, and other agents commonly used will bring the ill side effects to the forefront quickly. At this level of ingestion, you would be like a ping-pong ball bouncing around the room all day. Your heart rate will remain elevated, your arteries will constrict causing higher blood pressure and hypertension. You will likely incur headaches and massive insomnia driving your immune system and recovery into the basement and if you're a male, your prostate gland will enlarge noticeably. You may also cause stomach ulcers. Taken at much lower dosages, most of these side effects in most people aren't noticeable, however, then you diminish the increase in metabolic fat burning.

It's hard to make a recommendation when there are so many negative yet so many positive effects. I would never endorse the dosages used in weight loss studies. I do, however, find that most people have very good results on much lower dosages. When a person takes a single dose (usually containing 20 mg. of ephedrine) all the noted positive effects are present. One being appetite suppression. Similar to nicotine, ephedrine suppresses hunger receptors located at the beginning of the small intestine. This single dosage begins the day on a high-energy level with a suppressed appetite. Many people still find the jittery feelings too strong and can receive noticeable effects with just half of a dose. After a week or two, a second dose can be taken about an hour before lunch to prolong the effects into the late afternoon. If you take the supplements later in the day you will more than likely experience insomnia.

At these doses, up to two per day, for two to three months, I agree with the recent studies that find no adverse long term side effects. If you have any heart conditions, high blood pressure, or hypertension already, you should not take these products at all. My last hesitation in advising people to use these products is simply the psychological addictive nature. Taken for weight loss or for more energy during workouts often leads to taking them in other situations. I've seen people with bottles of these products on their desks and people drinking products with these ingredients all day long like Elvis. Even on low dosages, the bad side effects can be cumulative and you shouldn't take these products continuously.

So, in review, sane dosages ranging from one half a dose to two doses per day have been found to be safe and effective as appetite suppressants and to increase energy throughout the day. These two effects alone will make many people successful who may otherwise have trouble. High dosages in excess of 50 mg. of ephedrine per day will compound ill side effects and still won't likely "burn" body fat right off your thighs. Even the studied doses of 100-200 mg. won't increase metabolic needs to a level that you can eat garbage and still become runway model. If you are trying to lose weight correctly and are exercising moderately, the lower doses can be the extra punch that you need to get you over the top!

(NOTE: Supplements using the herbal form, Ma Huang, will often state the milligrams of Ma Huang with a percent of ephedrine alkaloids. For example, Ma Huang 240 mg. {6% Ephedra alkaloids.} You simply have to multiply 240 mg. x 6% to derive 14.4 mg of ephedrine.)