A Case Report on Weight Loss with an Adjusted Dosage of Ephedra (Mahuang) in a Patient with a History of Arrhythmia Who Experienced Adverse Cardiovascular Reactions from Ephedra Use

Introduction: This report presents a patient with a history of arrhythmia who took <i>Ephedra</i> to lose weight and whose palpitations worsened with an increased <i>Ephedra</i> dose.Case Presentation: A woman in her mid-40s (158 cm, 65 kg) sought herbal treatment to minimize arrhythmia aggravation while losing weight. She received 9 g/day of <i>Ephedra</i> (Mahuang) plus Danshen, Gegen, and Huangqi, which reduced her palpitations from an Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of 7 on Day 1 to 2-3 through Day 37. After increasing the <i>Ephedra</i> dosage to 11.5 g/day on Day 37, her palpitations rose to NRS 5 but improved to NRS 3 once the dose was lowered back to 9 g/day on Day 60. She lost 4 kg overall, but on Day 75 reported indigestion, frequent urination, and a mild sensation of incomplete emptying.Conclusion: While <i>Ephedra</i> helps achieve weight loss and improve palpitation symptoms, further research on safe <i>Ephedra</i> dosage is required.