Ephedra Viridis (Mormon Tea): The Legal American Ephedra

Ephedra viridis, also called green ephedra or Mormon tea, is a jointed, broom-like desert shrub native to the western United States. Unlike Asian ephedra species such as ma huang, research on North American ephedra has found little or no ephedrine, the alkaloid behind the FDA's 2004 supplement ban. That's why Rhino Rush Ephedra Powered shots are built on Ephedra viridis.

Does Ephedra viridis contain ephedrine?

Research says little or none. A 2001 survey of ephedra species worldwide, published in the American Journal of Botany, found ephedrine-type alkaloids concentrated in Old World species, while the New World species it tested, including North American ones, had little or none. That's the key chemical difference between Ephedra viridis and Asian ma huang (Ephedra sinica), whose stems are rich in ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Alkaloid levels in any plant vary by part, season, and growing conditions, so "little or no" is the honest description, not "zero." What matters legally is that Ephedra viridis isn't a concentrated ephedrine-alkaloid supplement of the kind the FDA banned. For the full rule and its history, see was the ephedra ban lifted?

What is Ephedra viridis?

Ephedra viridis is a perennial shrub in the family Ephedraceae, usually 2 to 4 feet tall, with bright green, jointed, nearly leafless stems that point upward like a broom. Its leaves are reduced to tiny scales at the stem joints, so the green stems do most of the photosynthesis. Plants are male or female and produce small cones rather than flowers.

Fact	Ephedra viridis
Common names	Green ephedra, Mormon tea, Brigham tea, green Mormon tea
Family	Ephedraceae (a gymnosperm, not a flowering plant)
Native range	Western U.S.: Great Basin, Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau
Habitat	Dry, rocky slopes, sagebrush and pinyon-juniper country
Size	Typically 2–4 ft tall
Ephedrine content	Little or none in published analyses

Why is it called Mormon tea?

It's called Mormon tea because Latter-day Saint pioneers in Utah brewed its stems as a hot drink in the 1800s, a practice they likely learned from Native American peoples of the Great Basin, who used the plant long before. The same plant is also called Brigham tea, after Brigham Young. Steeped green ephedra stems make a mild, slightly piney tea that's still sold as a traditional herbal tea in the American West.

How is Ephedra viridis different from ma huang?

	Ephedra viridis	Ephedra sinica (ma huang)
Origin	Western United States	Northern China, Mongolia
Ephedrine	Little or none	High
Traditional use	Folk tea in the American West	Traditional Chinese medicine; original source of isolated ephedrine
Status in U.S. supplements	Not an ephedrine-alkaloid supplement	Ephedrine-alkaloid supplements banned since 2004

See all the major species side by side in ephedra species explained: sinica vs viridis.

Is Ephedra viridis legal?

Yes. The FDA's 2004 rule bans dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids, and Ephedra viridis, with little or no ephedrine, isn't one. The plant is also sold openly as a landscaping shrub and traditional tea. A few states have their own ephedra rules, so check local law; our is ephedra legal guide covers the details, and the ephedra guide hub has the full background.

How does Rhino Rush use Ephedra viridis?

Rhino Rush pairs Ephedra viridis with 200mg of caffeine in a 2 oz shot for what we call body energy: a physical, get-moving lift rather than a purely mental buzz. There are no artificial dyes, no added vitamins, and no added sugar. Compared with a typical 5-Hour Energy shot (about 200mg caffeine plus a B-vitamin blend), caffeine is similar; the ephedra and the short label are the difference. It comes in Grape, Blue Raspberry, Kiwi Strawberry, and Peach. For more on the formula, see plant-based energy shots.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ephedra viridis contain ephedrine?
Published analyses of North American ephedra species, including Ephedra viridis, have found little or no ephedrine, unlike Asian ma huang.

Is Mormon tea the same as ephedra?
Mormon tea is a common name for North American ephedra species, especially Ephedra viridis. It's ephedra, but not the alkaloid-rich Asian kind.

Where does Ephedra viridis grow?
In dry, rocky areas of the western U.S., including the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Colorado Plateau.

Is Ephedra viridis banned?
No. The 2004 FDA ban covers ephedrine-alkaloid dietary supplements, which Ephedra viridis isn't.

Which Rhino Rush shots contain Ephedra viridis?
All four Ephedra Powered flavors: Grape, Blue Raspberry, Kiwi Strawberry, and Peach.

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Written by Justin Pickrell, Rhino Rush. Sources: Caveney et al., "New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae)," American Journal of Botany (2001); U.S. Food & Drug Administration, final rule on dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (2004); National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), "Ephedra"; USDA PLANTS Database, Ephedra viridis.

Informational only, not medical advice. Stimulant product for healthy adults 18+; not for those pregnant, nursing, or with a medical condition without consulting a healthcare professional.