Asian ginseng is native to China and Korea and has been used for many centuries. True ginsengs include Asian ginseng and American ginseng. An herb called Siberian ginseng or eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng.

In February 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (ephedra) because such supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. It may still be found in some products manufactured outside the US and either imported illegally or purchased abroad.

Ephedra, or ma huang, is a shrub-like plant that is found in desert regions in central Asia and other parts of the world. It is a stimulant containing the herbal form of ephedrine. The main active ingredient in ephedra is an amphetamine-like compound make up of the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine that can powerfully stimulate the nervous system and heart.