ephedras

Noun

ephedra (countable and uncountable, plural ephedras)

1. Any plant of the genus Ephedra of gymnosperm shrubs.
2. A stimulant derived from the plant Ephedra sinica used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine and in over-the-counter weight-loss aids.
   • Consider ephedra, an herbal stimulant that gained popularity as a weight-loss supplement in the 1990s — until hundreds of people reported ephedra-related problems including heart attacks, seizures and even deaths.2009 February 10, Natasha Singer, “F.D.A. Finds ‘Natural’ Diet Pills Laced With Drugs”, in New York Times