Interaction Between Ma Huang and Birth Control Pills
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: No Name Given
Posted on: March 15, 2002

My friend and I are currently taking birth control pills and also we are working out and take Ripped Fuel, this contains 334 mg of Mahuang extract per 2 capsules. We want to know if this herb counteracts with the effect of birth control.

As far as we know ma huang (Ephedra sinica and other Ephedra species) does not have any effect on the effectiveness of control pills.

That quantity of ephedra may present other risks however. You should review the amount of ephedrine that you are getting in that dose. If it is over 8 mg per dose or over 32 mg per day, you may be at risk of heart problems and stroke. Ephedrine is the primary active compound that is found in ma huang. Health Canada, the Canadian medicines regulator, has recommended that these limits on ephedrine intake not be exceeded.

Back to Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses | Q & A Index

Copyright © 1997-2024 Otto Richter and Sons Limited. All rights reserved.