Banned and Restricted Ingredients: Ephedra, Aristolochic Acid, DMAA and Others
Three documented regulator actions on herbal and supplement ingredients: ephedra (FDA rule, 2004), DMAA (FDA, illegal in supplements) and aristolochic acid (FDA import alert, TGA prohibition), with dates and sources.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Urgent first. For collapse, a seizure, trouble breathing or chest pain after taking any product, call 911. For a possible poisoning or overdose, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). In a mental health crisis in the US, call or text 988. See Poisoning: what to do first. Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass.
Some ingredients have been restricted or declared unlawful in supplements because regulators found a risk. This page covers three that have clear, readable regulator statements. It is not a complete list, and rules differ by country and change over time, so each item below names the body, country and date. "Natural" does not mean safe, and a product can still be sold online or abroad even where a rule exists.
Ephedra (ephedrine alkaloids), United States
- What the regulator did. FDA issued a final rule, effective April 12, 2004, declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated. [1] NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements describes the rule as prohibiting their sale because such supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. [2]
- Why. FDA said it acted based on the pharmacology of ephedrine alkaloids, the peer-reviewed literature and adverse events reported after use. [1]
- What it covers and does not. The rule text is about dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. [1] We did not read in this session how it applies to other product types, such as traditional Chinese medicine formulas, so we make no claim about them. For the plant itself, see Ephedra (Ma Huang) and other banned herbal ingredients.
- Canada, for contrast. Health Canada's archived note on a 2024 interim order concerns condition-of-sale rules, limiting retail sale to pharmacists, for natural health products whose only medicinal ingredients are ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or both. [3] Its stated concern was misuse and diversion, including as precursors in the illegal production of methamphetamine. [3] This is a sales restriction rather than a ban, and the note is archived, so check current status with Health Canada.
DMAA, United States
- Status. FDA says DMAA is not a dietary ingredient and DMAA-containing products marketed as dietary supplements are illegal. [4]
- "Natural" claims. FDA says it is not aware of any reliable science indicating that DMAA exists naturally in plants. [4] It lists other names to look for on labels, and says that some products list Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) extract, which may indicate DMAA. [4]
- Safety statements. FDA says it has no information to demonstrate that consuming DMAA is safe. [4] It says the substance narrows blood vessels and arteries and can raise blood pressure, and may lead to problems such as shortness of breath, arrhythmias, tightening in the chest and heart attack. [4]
- Enforcement. FDA says that starting in 2012 it issued warning letters to companies. [4] The page we read is dated August 2018; we did not find a later update on it.
- If harmed. FDA says people who believe a DMAA product harmed them should contact their health care practitioner. [4] Reporting steps are in How to report a side effect in the US. See also Hidden drugs and tainted products.
Aristolochic acid (Aristolochia species and look-alikes), United States and Australia
Aristolochic acid is a compound found in plants of the Aristolochiaceae family. Regulators document serious harm from it.| Question | What the source says | Body and date |
|---|---|---|
| Is it harmful? | A substance known to result in serious adverse health effects when taken orally by humans or animals; a potent carcinogen and nephrotoxin (harmful to the kidney). [5] | FDA, Import Alert 54-10, published 12/10/2020 |
| What action? | Field staff may detain, without physical examination, bulk or finished supplements or drugs identified as containing certain Aristolochia species and listed related genera. [5] | FDA, 2020 |
| Is it legal in Australia? | All species of Aristolochia are prohibited for supply, sale or use in therapeutic goods in Australia. [6] | TGA, alert published 23 July 2001 |
| What harm? | Aristolochic acids are associated with severe kidney damage. [6] | TGA, 2001 |
Why mix-ups happen. One reason FDA gives for contaminated products is that the plant ingredient listed on the label was mis-identified. [5] The TGA says most affected products contained the acid because certain Aristolochia species were substituted for other species. [6] This is why we do not teach plant identification here: if you are unsure what a herbal product contains, ask a pharmacist or a qualified practitioner, and do not use raw herbs of uncertain identity. The TGA also notes that some practitioner-only raw herbs are not regulated by the TGA. [6]
What this means for you. If you have used a herbal product that may have contained Aristolochia and you have kidney problems or unexplained symptoms, tell a doctor and mention the product. Read more in Aristolochic acid and herbal nephropathy and Kidney disease and supplements.
Limits and other ingredients
- We read the sources above in October 2026 and did not search every regulator for every ingredient. Other restricted ingredients exist (see Unsafe products warnings and Bitter orange, yohimbe and other stimulant herbs), but we have not listed any here without a source.
- Not covered in the pages we read: current EU, UK and Canadian lists of prohibited herbal ingredients.
- FDA advises talking with a doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional before using a supplement. [7]
Frequently asked questions
Is ephedra illegal in supplements in the US?
FDA's rule, effective April 12, 2004, declared dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated. [1]
Is DMAA a natural plant ingredient?
FDA says it is not aware of any reliable science indicating that DMAA exists naturally in plants, and that DMAA is not a dietary ingredient. [4]
What is aristolochic acid and why is it a concern?
A compound in Aristolochia and related plants that FDA describes as a potent carcinogen and nephrotoxin. [5]
How do banned ingredients end up in products?
Some reach products by substitution or confusion of look-alike plants, according to FDA and the TGA. [5] [6] For DMAA, which FDA says is unlawful in supplements, FDA says it has issued warning letters to companies since 2012. [4]
What should I do if I think a product harmed me?
Contact a health care provider right away. FDA tells people harmed by a supplement to contact or see their provider first. [7] In an emergency call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Final Rule Declaring Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedrine Alkaloids Adulterated Because They Present an Unreasonable Risk, Federal Register, 2004. Read 2026-10-23.
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Ephedra. Read 2026-10-23.
- Health Canada. Archived Explanatory note on the Interim Order Concerning the Sale of Certain Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. DMAA in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements, page dated August 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Import Alert 54-10: Detention Without Physical Examination of Bulk/Finished Dietary Supplements Products Containing Aristolochic Acid, published 12/10/2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia). Aristolochia alert for practitioners, published 23 July 2001. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. Content current as of 08/27/2026. Read 2026-10-23.