I have been researching online for days, including this forum, and found NOTHING, and wanted to check with the community.

While ephedrine supplements have been banned in the U.S. I was curious if the actual ma huang (ephedra sinica) stems used for tea are legal for purchase in the U.S.? There are a few vendors online that sell them and are located overseas and would not want to get into any trouble.

With all the time spent checking various federal websites, I see nothing that indicates they are a banned nutritional supplement.

I have researched the TCM use of this for various lung aliments and many positive testamonials if used correctly and wanted to pursue this.

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

LOL I remember buying buying Ma Huang shreds at a health food store in kent oh. I have not seen them lately. You might try iherb.com

I checked with iherb and they do not carry them. I appreciate your trying to help though!

I was about to order ma huang stems from overseas but chickened out. I did see (after this post) where ephedrine was on the DEA controlled chemicals list after this post.

That may not pertain to ma huang stems as it isn't raw ephedrine, but I will not take that chance at this point. I need more clarification...

What I fail to understand, why there is so much obscurity as to whether the plant parts are banned or not?!?

That leads me to believe there may be something quite useful or special about this plant though in alternative medicine...

It was banned, because it caused severe and sometimes fatal hypertension in some people, mostly athletes and other abusers.

Even pseudoephedrine requires a signature to buy it at a pharmacy (Sudaphed and other decongestants). I think the reason for that is that it is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine along with iodine. Diet pills were removed as well.

The problem is always going to be abusers.

__________________
- Jim
https://www.natmedtalk.com/blogs/jfh

Yeah, that is really sad however, not that the voice of reason on a natmedtalk forum will change anything, but look at how many people abuse substances from Aspirin to Zinfindel...

People die from peanut butter, but it is still sold...

I will get to the bottom of the "lack of info" concerning the stems of the ephedra sinica plant though... It is VERY possible they are not banned or illegal, only the raw alkoloids extracted from them.

I agree. When they ban a natural substance, it usually was doing something good for people. They pulled Kombucha Tea from the shelves ( a brand called Synergy and its sister product GT) and then they brought them back, but definitely not the same thing!