USA announces ban on Ephedra sinica diet supplement

The US FDA announced a ban on the sale of the weight-loss aid Ephedra sinica, saying it is unsafe and can cause heart attacks and stroke. Dieters were likely to do more harm than good by taking E. sinica, which raises the metabolism. The FDA has reports of 155 deaths of people who took E. sinica and more than 16 500 complaints. The ban became effective on 12 April 2004.

http://fda.gov/oc/initiatives/ephedra/february2004/