CBN News Sr. Reporter -

CBN.com – The heatstroke death of 23-year-old baseball pitcher Steve Bechler last month has renewed controversy over an herbal weight loss product. It is called ephedra, and it is a powerful nervous system stimulant that some say is dangerous and should be banned. Even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now says ephedra can kill in some circumstances and is calling for strong warning labels.
Autopsy results have not yet been released, but the medical examiner suspects that a diet supplement containing ephedra contributed to the heatstroke that killed Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler.

The herb ephedra is a popular weight loss aid and workout enhancer found in dozens of products. Bechler's death is just the latest indication that the herb may not be as safe as its manufacturers say it is.

The FDA claims 80 deaths and more than a thousand medical problems have been linked to ephedra, which is also known by its Chinese name, "ma huang." And although ephedra accounts for only one percent of all supplement sales, it is responsible for 64 percent of all adverse health reactions to herbs.

Ephedra is a stimulant that increases heart rate and boosts metabolism. It can also cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stroke and seizures. And, as with Steve Bechler, ephedra can contribute to heatstroke because it constricts blood vessels and stops the body from cooling itself properly.

Dr. Patricia Williams, professor of pharmacology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, says because it is available over-the-counter, consumers may not realize how potent ephedra can be. And that may lead them to think if a little is good, a lot must be better.

"The general public often doesn't realize that the more you take of a compound, the bigger the response you're going to get. Not only the response one desires, weight loss, but also the adverse effects," Williams said.

And many ephedra supplements also contain other ingredients, which can exaggerate the stimulant effects of ephedra. "Many have caffeine in them also. And caffeine stimulates the brain and the heart very much like ephedra does. It's a double whammy," Williams said.

Rob Wersler is an amateur body builder and personal trainer who says he has heard about the risks of ephedra, but he takes it anyway because it helps him burn fat quickly. He says he has not had any problems with it, even though he takes more than the recommended dose.

"Personally I take it, I take more than what it says," Wersler said. "And athletes, their bodies start getting immune to it and they take more and more."

Twenty-two-year-old Jennifer James wanted to lose a few pounds and make the most of her weight training regimen, so she started taking "Hydroxycut," an ephedra supplement. She took only half the recommended dose, but it caused nausea, dizziness and rapid heartbeat.

"I'd get on the treadmill or elyptical machine, and my heart was beating so quickly, I could feel it, and then starting to do what I was doing, cardiovascular, whether the treadmill or elyptical machine, my heart was beating so quickly, I'd have to stop. I didn't know what was going to happen," James said.

Because ephedra is an herb and not considered a drug, it is not closely regulated by the FDA. But an independent safety review just released by the FDA calls for strong warning labels for ephedra products, although the government stopped short of calling for a ban.

Even if the government does not ban ephedra supplements, they probably will not stay on the market much longer. Product liability insurance costs and the threat of consumer lawsuits have a lot of manufacturers and retails looking for safer alternatives.

Already, 7-11 stores have stopped selling ephedra products. GNC, the country's largest supplement retailer, says it will no longer sell ephedra products to minors. Twin Lab Corporation, maker of "Ripped Fuel," says it will take ephedra out of its weight loss products as of March 31.

Despite the controversy, Rob Wersler still takes ephedra when he is training for competition. But he says if it is pulled from the market, he will get in shape the old fashioned way. "I'll just stick to the basics — eating right doing a lot of exercises, doing more cardio. It's just about discipline," he said.

Steve Bechler's widow is suing the maker of "Xenadrine," the supplement her husband was reportedly taking when he died.

The National Football League, the National Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association have all banned ephedra. And just a few days ago, minor league baseball banned the herb as well. Major League Baseball has not made an announcement yet, but after the Bechler incident, they are expected to follow suit.

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