A buzz for me, a buzz for thee....

Setting the record straight on Mormon's and ephedra....from my email:

Dear Tom,

Just a quick point regarding your post regarding the Mormons and Ephedra from a botanist. The genus Ephedra includes several species of plants native to the dryer areas of the Southwest, including one found here in Oklahoma. The common name for these plants is "Mormon Tea" because though the Mormons would not consume coffee or normal tea, but would make a tea-like drink out of these plants. While this is certainly hypocritical, using a stimulating compound found in one group of plants while placing prohibitions on others and certainly follows no obvious logic, Senator Hatch's position is probably consistent with other aspects of Mormon "logic."

Interestingly, other early settlers to the American west used the plant as a cure for syphilis, thus the most common species has the name Ephedra antisyphilitica. Maybe this explains Senator Hatch's fondness for the Ephedra industry?

Cheers,

Jim

P.S. Ephedra, to my knowledge, has never been demonstrated to have any actual effects that cure syphilis infection.

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Thanks for clearing that up Jim. This would explain why so many sufferers of syphillis use ephedra under the mistaken notion that it can cure them, leading to unhealthy weight loss and an almost skeletal appearance.