Ephedra’s main active medicinal ingredients are the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The stem contains 1–3% total alkaloids, with ephedrine accounting for 30–90% of this total, depending on the plant species. Both ephedrine and its synthetic counterparts stimulate the central nervous system, dilate the bronchial tubes, elevate blood pressure, and increase heart rate. Pseudoephedrine (the synthetic form) is a popular over-the-counter remedy for relief of nasal congestion. Little research has been done on using the whole plant (compared to its isolated alkaloids) for any condition.

Other Weight Loss options to consider
5-HTP is a nutrient that helps curb appetite in some individuals . 5-HTP, by converting into serotonin, can be used temporarily to improve will power and decrease the urge to eat until more established weight loss habits are in place. You can buy 5-HTP here. .
Hoodia is a cactus plant extract from the Kalahari desert in South Africa that has been getting a lot of attention lately. You can buy Hoodia Extract here.
Green tea extract may be effective in some people as a weight loss pill. You can purchase Green-Tea-Extract here.
Caffeine is often found in weight loss pills but I personally don't like my patients taking extra caffeine since it can cause increased heart rate and anxiety. Most people already consume enough caffeine through coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate.
Ginger may be helpful in some people but higher doses are required.
Alpha lipoic acid may also reduce appetite but it is primarily used as an antioxidant.
Guarana may work in combination with Yerba-Mate and damiana
Acetyl-l-carnitine is a weight loss pill that may reduce appetite in some individuals. You can buy Acetyl-l-Carnitine here.

The crude powdered stems of ephedra (with less than 1% ephedrine) are used at 1–4 grams per day in tea form. Tinctures of 1–3 ml three times per day can be taken. Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine can be used by adults at 10 mg every 8 hours. Adults should take no more than 30 mg every twenty-four hours.

CAUTION
Abuse of ephedra (and particularly ephedrine)—especially for weight loss or as a recreational drug—can lead to amphetamine-like side effects, including elevated blood pressure, rapid heart beat, nervousness, irritability, headache, urination disturbances, insomnia, dry mouth, heart palpitations, and even death due to heart failure, stroke, or irregular rhythms. One study has shown that a single dose of ephedra caused mild elevation of heart rate but did not consistently affect blood pressure in otherwise healthy adults. When taken at higher levels, ephedra can cause drastic increases in blood pressure, as well as cardiac arrhythmias. Ephedrine is considered potentially habituating, though it is unclear if the whole herb ephedra is likely to do the same thing. Ephedra in high doses may increase the risk for stroke.

Anyone with a medical condition (particularly hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, anxiety, thyroid disorders) or taking medicines or other supplements should consult their physician before taking ephedra.

As of April 2004, it is illegal to sell ephedra in the US.

A few thoughts about herbs
Pharmaceutical companies have provided us with some wonderful medicines. So has nature. Pharmaceutical companies have, at times, also marketed dangerous drugs. Nature has also created herbs and plants dangerous for human consumption. I often hear people emphatically claiming that herbal therapies are safe and are preferable to drugs. Although this is generally true, it would be simplistic to unequivocally assert that substances found in nature are inherently safer and superior to those synthesized in laboratories. Each chemical, whether natural or man-made, has to be evaluated on its own merits. Let's keep in mind that during millions of years of evolution, plants created chemicals to help them not only extract and use nutrients found in soil, water, and air, but created chemicals to make themselves unpalatable and toxic to insects and animals bent on consuming them. Poisonous Amanita mushrooms are a case in point. We know that many chemicals found in plants and herbs are not fit for human consumption. The only good way to find out the medicinal merits of a particular herb is to do extensive human testing.
   It just happens that certain plants have produced chemicals that are beneficial for human consumption. Examples are fruits and vegetables. Not only do they contain carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, but they also have thousands of nutrients including bioflavonoids and carotenoids that have enormous health-promoting properties. Additionally, many plants have been found to have chemicals that have potential in the therapy of a variety of human ailments.

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