The US federal government has banned the sale of ephedra, an herbal supplement used to control weight and boost athletic performance. The government ban is one of the first to hit dietary supplements. Because ephedra is an herb, it was legal to sell it over-the-counter unless the FDA could prove that it posed a clear danger to public health. In the US alone, 155 deaths have been attributed to ephedra, including that of the Baltimore Orioles baseball player Steve Bechler. The herb has been linked to heart attack and stroke even in healthy people who were taking the recommended dosage.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.ap.org on the 30th December 2003.
