Allergic reactions caused by insect bites, foods, or medications can be mitigated by epinephrine injections. Epinephrine works by relaxing the muscles and tightening the blood vessels.

Fact 1. Epinephrine is a hormonal adrenaline.

Fact 2.   Epinephrine is involved in the fight-or-flight response in humans. When threatened, the body involuntarily reacts to potential danger by releasing epinephrine so  that the muscles of the body can react appropriately.

Fact 3.   Epinephrine injections react against the symptoms of anaphylaxis by relaxing the airways to overcome breathing difficulties and the narrowing of blood vessels.

Fact 4.  Epinephrine is used during cardiac arrest as it will promote coronary blood flow. However, it must be used with caution due to the side effects such as brain and heart damage.

Fact 5. There are known side effects to epinephrine such as: upset stomach, vomiting, sweating, dizziness, nervousness, headaches, and uncontrollable shaking of the hands.

Fact 6.  Epinephrine as an anesthetic will be able to sustain numbness for up to an hour while without epinephrine the numbness will last for five to seven minutes.

Fact 7.  The Chinese herbal plant, Ma Huang, or ephedra equisetina contains a protein extract called ephedrine with similar properties to epinephrine.

Fact 8.  Ephedrine can impact an athlete’s performance by an expansion of the lungs, muscle flexibility, and an improvement of the glucose levels during competitions. The response is similar to an adrenaline rush experienced by athletes. Due to the long-term, adverse effects of ephedrine, the drug has been banned by the IOC, NCAA, and the Olympic Committee.

Fact 9. The FDA has imposed limitations on Ma Huang in terms of drug usage and the number of days of consumption is limited to seven days.  The FDA has also recommended  warning labels to indicate  that a dosage of more than 25mg  could potentially cause a heart attack, stroke, seizures, and even death.

Fact 10.  The FDA has not provided sufficient evidence to ban Ma Huang as a 1994 legal restriction removed dietary supplements from the jurisdiction of the FDA. Any drug, be it prescribed, over-the-counter, or a dietary supplement, the daily dosage should be used with caution on a long-term basis due to the inherent effects on the body.