As you spend some time thinking about potentially using Ephedrine HCL, you may begin to wonder what the main difference is between ephedrine and ephedra. Often these two terms are used interchangeably so many people get them mixed up with some people not even realizing there is a difference.
While both terms do refer to the same herb, it’s important that you realize the individual differences. Let’s take a quick look at the main difference between ephedrine and ephedra.
Ephedra
When someone says ‘ephedra’, they are essentially referring to the whole herb itself, rather than the individual parts. Essentially, this would be the term used if you went out and picked up an ephedra plant.
Rather than getting specific ingredients from it, you’re getting the whole entire plant and everything that comes with it. Most often this ephedra is used by making it into a tea by boiling it with some water.
Ephedrine
Ephedrine on the other hand is the actual constituent that is found in ephedra that is going to provide all the weight loss benefits that you’re looking for. The benefits of ephedrine are often stated to be reduced level of appetite, increased energy levels, and a boost to your metabolic rate.
Some sources also cite that ephedrine can help you retain lean muscle mass when in the face of a hypocaloric diet, which is important since muscle mass loss will naturally reduce the metabolic rate as well.
When you look at the whole herb ephedra itself, it contains 0.5-2 percent of a substance referred to as alkaloids, which are made up of ephedrine, pseudophedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, and methylephedrine.
Since it is primarily only the actual ephedrine that promotes the weight loss results you’re looking for however, this is the one that researchers will isolate and put in most of their products.
So when you go to the local supplement store and purchase your ‘ephedra’, what you’re really purchasing 99% of the time is ephedrine. Unless you happen to buy the product in herb format, this is what you’re getting.
One thing to note however for those who are concerned of the health effects that ephedrine sometimes does cause is that it’s said that taking it in herbal form (tea format) is somewhat safer than when you take the isolated alkaloid itself.
But, there again, you likely will not see the same degree of results doing this as you would if you took that individual ingredient due to the actual strength of ephedrine in there.
So be sure that you keep this information in mind. Ephedrine HCL is essentially the term that it is referred to as when sold as a product so this is what you’ll be looking for on the package to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want.
