Time to ban ephedra--now.

Until 1994, herbal products in the U.S. were regulated as food supplements or food additives. However, with the passage of the Dietary and Nutritional Supplement Health and Education Act, oversight of these products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been greatly diminished. A case in point is that of the herbal drug ephedra which is promoted to enhance athletic performance, weight loss and sexual drive. The ease with which ephedra can be obtained is alarming, since its use has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. In response to concerns about this substance, FDA has proposed mandatory warning labels on the packaging of products containing ephedra. However, based on the poor risk-benefit ratio, the banning of ephedra is more appropriate than making labeling changes.