Ephedra – Does it work for Weight Loss

For over 4000 years ephedra (Ma huang) has been used in Chinese medicine to treat several disorders. Ephedra comes from a plant that has a few powerful active compounds, of which ephedrine is most useful. Research has shown that ephedra increases metabolism and helps promote weight loss, relaxes air passages in lungs to help treat asthma and cough, promotes perspiration to help a person recover from a minor cold and helps promote urination to help relieve edema. Ephedra has been widely researched for its thermogenic (fat burning) properties. Research has show that ephedra helps promote loss of fat while helping spare lean muscle tissue, a highly sought-after property that prescription diet medications still have not been able to reproduce. Because of its stimulating effect on nervous system, ephedra can be found in some popular weight loss and energy products. For dieters it suppresses appetite and stimulates thyroid gland, which stimulates metabolism. Recently ma huang has been subject of scientific research for obesity because of its thermogenic fat-burning effect on dietary intake. Ma huang is also found in "energy" products that may give athletes extra energy without draining their reserves. People also indicate an increase in alertness and perception. Similar to diet formulas, it is often combined with ingredients such as kola nut or guarana, which contain caffeine. Everyone

Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. This cancer affects pleural sac that surrounds lungs and is caused by exposure to asbestos. The pleural sac contains lungs and also a small membrane called mesothelium. The mesothelium secretes a fluid that allows lungs to contract and expand during breathing. The inhalation of asbestos causes a build-up of asbestos fibers inside lungs. Due to microscopic size and sharpness of these fibers it’s possible for them to penetrate walls of lung and enter pleural cavity. As these fibers travel from lung into pleural cavity, sharp strands shred and mutilate mesothelium potentially destroying it and causing cancer.

As asbestos fibers move into pleural cavity, cancerous tumors can develop and this thickens pleural fluid and harms proper lung movement. The tumors also may constrict lungs and press on ribcage or other organs resulting in terrible pain. Since lungs are responsible for re-oxygenating blood, cancerous cells can now spread into other parts of body through bloodstream.