Is Noomba Safe?

Not long ago, anthropologists discovered a remote tribe in New Guinea, the Sipsep, who greeted them with noomba, a bitter but tasty drink they claimed the gods had given their ancestors to keep them strong and healthy. The anthropologists tried noomba - and immediately felt more alert, energetic and productive. They could run faster and hike farther without fatigue. One who had asthma claimed she breathed easier after drinking the herbal brew. Noomba caused only two problems: insomnia if the anthropologist drank it before bed, and a headache for a day after they stopped drinking it on a trip to the coast.

Despite these annoyances, the anthropologists grew to love noomba and took a great deal home with them. It was an immediate hit with their university colleagues. At a cocktail party, some medical researchers asked if they could study the herb. The anthropologists readily agreed.

It did not take long for the researchers to report some disturbing findings:

1. Noomba was classically addictive. Over time, users developed a tolerance, that is they required more and more noomba to obtain the same increase in alertness and productivity. The headache the anthropologists have reported was actually just one symptom of physical withdrawal from the addition. Other withdrawal symptoms included constipation, sleepiness and a craving for other stimulants.

2. Noomba's stimulating effect caused not only insomnia, but also anxiety, irritability, anemia, diarrhea, heartburn, upset stomach, muscle tension and in a few cases, outbursts of uncontrolled rage.

3. Even more disturbing, a five-cup-a-day noomba habit (which many of the anthropologists had) raised cholesterol, blood pressure and doubled their risk of heart attack.

4. Some studies suggested noomba impaired fertility. And in experiments involving pregnant animals, the herb caused birth defects.

5. Finally, some animal studies linked noomba to several cancers. What do you think? Is noomba safe? Would you drink it? How would you feel if your children became noomba addicts?

Coffee is probably the most dangerous herb discussed in herb books. In large amounts, it causes more problems that most herbs. Yet it is one of the world's most popular herbs, and most people consider it safe in moderate amounts. This story was taken from "The Healing Herbs" by Michael Castleman.

One recent report noted: "If caffeine were a newly synthesized drug, its manufacturer would almost certainly have a great difficulty getting it licensed under current Food and Drug Administration regulations. If it were licensed, it would almost certainly be available only by prescription."

Is Ma Huang Safe?

Also known as Ephedra and Mormon Tea, it dates back some 5,000 years. Its main use has always been for colds, asthma and hayfever. Most of the over-the-counter medications used for colds, runny noses, congestion, etc. originated with the herb Ma Huang (Ephedra). Ephedra's active constituents are ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine and methylephedrine, four alkaloids that occur naturally together to balance each other. Modern science found that ephedrine and psuedoephedrine could be made artificially in a test tube and save the cost of preparing the soil, planting, organically fertilizing, harvesting, extracting, drying, shipping, multitudes of middle men, labor cost and they still can call it Ma Huang (what a deal).

Therefore, most pharmaceutical companies and even so called natural products went to the artificial "Ma Huang" for the cost savings. Sudafed, Contact, Afrin, Actifed, NyQuil and many other cold and allergy products use psuedoephedrine as their main ingredient (usually from 30 to 60 mg). Energy Slim has only 12mg of Ephedra and also uses the entire plant to balance the alkaloids.

Mainstream medical researchers insist psuedoephedrine, the related chemical used in commercial cold preparations, is safer than ephedrine. Scientific herbalists agree, but they insist the whole ephedra plant is safer than either ephedrine or psuedoephedrine. The Ephedra in Ma Huang increases basal metabolic rate (BMR) of adipose (fat); meaning it spurs the body to burn calories faster. This has been proven in laboratory animals and certainly across the nation clinically.

Is Ma Huang a risk?

We live in a world of benefit-risk ratios. Every time you eat a new food, get in your car, go down stairs, ride a train, take a medication, fly in a plane or even take a walk in the park, you take a chance on jeopardizing either your health or life. Nothing is totally safe, if you overdose on water - you drown.

When it comes to a medicinal plant (with minimal danger if taken correctly) that could possibly prevent ill health, deaths, hospital stays, time off work, not being able to play with your children/grandchildren or do the recreation of your choice, there seems to be a double standard. The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) reported in one year that there were 227 prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical deaths. In that same year, there were no fatalities (0) for herbs. Yet herbs are referred to with such emotionally loaded terms as "poisons". Any major reaction I could find related to herbs was all due to an overdose.

Ma Huang (Ephedra) like any other healing agent needs to be treated with respect. Dosage is to be adjusted to your own metabolic tolerance. Increase any dose slowly and do not panic over a mild palpitation of the heart or a shaky hand - the body and herb are getting to know each other. If the reaction continues or feels uncomfortable, reduce the dose accordingly. Do not take with coffee, black tea or colas. Drink lots of water. One absolutely firm fact about your body is that it is flexible - give it a comfortable chance. Use the medical profession for what it does best - emergency care. But you need to take responsibility for life while you live. Work on your diet, exercise, keep a positive mental attitude, rest and maintain a sound nervous system. Research the products you use for yourself, there is a lot of information available.

I hope this synopses of opinions and findings removes any fears of the Ma Huang in Energy Slim. As Dr. Chomiak has said, "the amount is enough to be effective but not enough to be dangerous if taken correctly."

For anyone who is concerned about taking Energy Slim, our recommendation is to take Maca Gold or Royal Trim^™, because they contain no Ma Huang.

Many people are concerned about the toxicity of certain herbs, in particular, Ma Huang, also known as Mormon tea, ephedra or desert tea. Since all the seemingly credible horror stories about Ma Huang come from respected sources like family doctors, dietitians, pharmacists and government bureaucrats, there is a need to respond intelligently to these fears. Are we really poisoning our clients or at the very least creating "expensive urine?"

If you isolate one of the dozens of Ma Huang's chemical constituents, concentrate it and purify it as a drug, there could indeed be toxicity. However, herbs were not meant to be used in this fashion. Only pharmaceutical manufacturers use herbs in this way. Over 1,000 deaths occur each year as a direct result of over-the-counter cough and cold pharmaceuticals alone.

Over 2,000 people in the United States die each year as a result of ASA and other non-steriodal, anti-inflammatory, FDA-approved drugs. At least 25,000 hospital admissions each year are a direct result of this family of FDA-approved drugs. ASA is one of many extracts of an herb known as white willow bark. It has many other constituents that help buffer the ASA naturally. With white willow bark, one can get the benefits of ASA without any side effects. The number of deaths reported in the past 10 years from white willow bark is zero.

In 1991, the total number of poisonings from prescription and over-the-counter, FDA-approved drugs was 9805. These include various analgesics (2669), antidepressants (517), antihistamines (412), antimicrobials (953), cough and cold drugs (619), hormones and hormone antagonists (488), anti-anxiety/anti-psychotics (888) and topicals (1106). Each and every death was the result of "safe and effective" FDA-approved drugs. The total number of deaths in 1991, as a result of Ma Huang (or all herbs for that matter) was zero. In the years 1983-1990, the statistics are consistent in showing a gradual rise in the number of FDA-approved drug deaths and zero deaths from vitamins, minerals or herbs. These statistics were reported by Donald Loomis from information supplied by the national Capitol Poison Center of the United States.

When one uses the whole herb, balanced by nature or synergistically with other herbs, toxicity is extremely rare. Ma Huang (Ephedra) is a whole herb. Ephedrine is one of its many components and is sold as a drug. It is the chemical responsible for the side effects frequently whined about by the critics of herbal medicine. Ephedrine on its own does not have the same properties as Ma Huang. Any claim to the contrary is false, or misleading.

I have used Ma Huang in my practice for over 12 years. Some people cannot tolerate its stimulating effects, but such individuals are rare and frequently deficient in antioxidant vitamins and minerals. The majority of the population (99% or more) tolerates Ma Huang well.

It is said that people with high blood pressure, heart problems and prostate problems should not take Ma Huang. Typically, coffee and tea are more likely to cause such people problems than Ma Huang.

Any substance, including water and oxygen, can become toxic if the dosage is high enough. For example, rare cases of water poisoning have been reported in psychotic patients who drank many gallons of water until they drowned. Similarly, excessive oxygen can cause tissue damage so severe as to lead to organ destruction (e.g. blindness due to oxidative damage to the retina). Since most people do not guzzle 80 gallons of water in one sitting, it is reasonable to assume that water is a safe nutrient supplement. The same can be said for most vitamins, minerals, and herbs. When taken in the traditionally recommended dosages, Ma Huang is safe. When used in conjunction with white willow bark, ginseng, saw palmetto, ginger and other synergistic herbs, it has potent life-enhancing effects.

It is time we demand proof of toxicity from doctors, dietitians, pharmacists, the FDA and government bureaucrats before they force natural remedies like Ma Huang off the market or under the medical prescription umbrella.

Dr. Zoltan P.Rona is a practicing medical doctor in Toronto with a Masters Degree in Biochemistry and Clinical Nutrition. He is the author of the best selling book, The Joy of Health. He is also a consultant on Nutrition and Preventive Medicine for the Moerisk Program of the Department of Pharmacology of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.