Frequently asked
Why is ephedra restricted in some countries?
Ephedra contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine alkaloids which are stimulants regulated for safety reasons. The FDA banned dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids in 2004; Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU, UK, and Japan (consumer forms) followed similar restrictions. We supply Pakistani wild-harvest ephedra only to licensed Korean Oriental Medicine pharmacies (한의약국), Taiwan TCM pharmaceutical entities, and mainland China TCM houses — three markets where Ma Huang is a pharmacopoeial herb with established licensed-import frameworks.
Do you ship ephedra to USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand?
No. We do not ship ephedra herb to USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand under any circumstance. These markets restrict or ban ephedra-containing dietary supplements; importing whole-herb ephedra can violate FDA, Health Canada, TGA, and Medsafe regulations. We will not process orders for these destinations regardless of buyer-stated end-use.
What jurisdictions can you ship to?
We supply Pakistani wild-harvest ephedra only to South Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China. Korea and Taiwan are our primary markets. We do not ship ephedra to Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Russia, CIS, USA, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or any other country — regardless of any third-party representation about local legality. We require documentation of buyer's TCM/Oriental Medicine licensing status (Korean MFDS, Taiwan TFDA, or Chinese NMPA equivalent) before quoting.
What documentation do you require from buyers?
Before we provide pricing or process any order: (1) Company name + business registration documents, (2) Pharmaceutical, TCM, or licensed extractor license (or equivalent in your jurisdiction), (3) Intended-use declaration stating the legitimate downstream use (TCM dispensing, licensed pharma extraction, etc.), (4) Destination country import permit where applicable. We do not ship to individuals; only to licensed corporate entities with documented compliance.
What forms of ephedra do you supply?
Whole dried ephedra herb (Ephedra sinica or Ephedra gerardiana, depending on availability). Wild-harvested from northern Pakistan mountainous regions. We supply raw herb only — we do not extract, concentrate, or refine alkaloids. Any extraction is done on the buyer's licensed facility. We do not ship pre-made extracts, capsules, or finished products.
Do you make any health claims about ephedra?
No, we make no health claims. Ephedra is a regulated herb; health-related marketing claims are illegal in most jurisdictions. We supply the raw herb to licensed buyers for their legitimate end-use. Any claims about traditional medicinal use, weight management, decongestant properties, or other applications are the buyer's responsibility under their destination market's regulatory framework.
What is the alkaloid content?
Ephedrine + pseudoephedrine combined: typically 0.8-1.6% in dried herb material, varying by species, harvest season, and altitude. Ephedra sinica generally has higher alkaloid content than gerardiana. Lab assay (HPLC) per shipment confirms exact alkaloid profile. Buyers requiring specific alkaloid threshold (e.g., for TCM dispensing) can specify in PO.
How is ephedra regulated in international trade?
Whole-herb ephedra is generally classified under HS 1211.90 (medicinal plants). It is NOT a controlled substance under the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (although its derived alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine ARE controlled in some jurisdictions). Cross-border shipment of whole herb is legal in TCM and licensed pharma markets but requires destination-country import permit. We coordinate phytosanitary, certificate of origin, and lab COA per shipment.
What is the MOQ and how does pricing work?
Pricing is provided only after license verification. Once verified, MOQ is 500 kg for first orders. Standard FCL 14-18 MT. Pricing varies significantly by alkaloid content, species, and season — typical range USD 3-15/kg FOB Karachi. Tier-1 licensed pharma buyers may receive forward-contract pricing for 6-12 month commitments.
Can I order a sample first?
Sample requests still require license verification. We do not ship samples to individuals or unverified entities. For verified licensed buyers: 100g sample with full COA shipped DHL/FedEx, courier paid by buyer. We require destination country to be in our permitted list.