Home Ingredients Brigham Tea (Mormon Tea / Ephedra viridis)
Kidney/Urinary Tract

Brigham Tea (Mormon Tea / Ephedra viridis)

Ephedra viridis
Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Brigham tea, also called Mormon tea or green ephedra, is a leafless shrub native to the arid American Southwest. Important context: Ephedra viridis is botanically and chemically distinct from the Asian species Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang) — phytochemical analyses of New World Ephedra species, including E. viridis and E. nevadensis, have not detected the sympathomimetic alkaloids ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, or norpseudoephedrine that drove the 2004 FDA ban on ephedra-alkaloid dietary supplements. Brigham tea has been used traditionally by Indigenous peoples and Mormon settlers as a mild beverage tea, occasionally for kidney and urinary support and as a folk remedy for colds and seasonal complaints. Formal human clinical research on E. viridis itself is essentially absent, so any modern use should be guided by traditional context rather than disease-modifying claims.

Studied Dose Traditional preparation: ~1 tsp dried stems steeped 10-15 minutes as a beverage tea; no clinically validated supplement dose exists.
Active Compound Tannins, flavonoids, and other phenolics; E. viridis is reported by analytical surveys to lack ephedrine and pseudoephedrine alkaloids found in E. sinica.

Benefits

Traditional Beverage Tea

Brigham tea has a long history as a mild herbal beverage among Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin and early Mormon settlers in Utah, valued for its pleasant earthy flavor and place in regional folk traditions.

Distinct From FDA-Banned Ephedra Alkaloids

Analytical phytochemistry indicates Ephedra viridis lacks the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine alkaloids of Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang) that prompted the 2004 FDA ban on ephedra-alkaloid dietary supplements — an important point of differentiation for consumers.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Provides Tannins and Plant Phenolics

The aerial stems contribute tannins and other phenolic compounds that may contribute to overall dietary antioxidant intake when consumed as a tea, in line with other plant-based herbal beverages.

Supported by Trial 1

Mild Traditional Diuretic Use

Brigham tea has been used traditionally as a mild diuretic and beverage for urinary and kidney support; this use is ethnobotanical rather than clinically validated, and should not replace medical care.

Supported by Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Tannin and Polyphenol Astringency

Tannins from E. viridis stems contribute the astringent profile and contribute mild antioxidant activity in vitro, consistent with general herbal tea pharmacology rather than a specific drug-like mechanism.

2

Absence of Sympathomimetic Alkaloids

Unlike E. sinica, comprehensive secondary-chemistry surveys have not detected ephedrine-class alkaloids in New World Ephedra species including E. viridis, indicating the plant does not act through adrenergic stimulation.

3

Mild Diuretic Folk Mechanism

Traditional kidney and urinary uses are consistent with mild diuretic activity reported in folk pharmacology, though formal mechanistic and pharmacokinetic studies in humans are lacking.

Clinical trials

1
Secondary Chemistry of World Ephedra

Analytical phytochemistry survey of secondary metabolites across global Ephedra species

Multiple Ephedra species including New World E. viridis and E. nevadensis

Ephedrine-class alkaloids were not detectable in New World Ephedra species; instead, these species contain other nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites (e.g., 6-hydroxykynurenate) with different pharmacology, distinguishing them from E. sinica.

2
Comparative Chemical Composition of Ephedra Species

Review of analytical methods and reported composition for various Ephedra species used historically

Literature review of Ephedra chemistry

The review confirms that ephedrine alkaloid content varies dramatically across species, with E. sinica being the dominant alkaloid-bearing species; many ornamental and North American species, including E. viridis, are described as containing little or no ephedrine.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Tannin content may cause stomach upset, nausea, or constipation in some users.
Long-term high tannin intake may interfere with iron absorption.
Allergic reactions are possible but rare with traditional tea use.
Pregnancy and lactation: avoid due to insufficient safety data.

Important Drug interactions

Theoretical interaction with diuretics due to mild diuretic-like folk use.
Tannins may modestly reduce absorption of medications and minerals taken at the same time.
Despite lacking ephedrine, discuss with a clinician before combining with stimulant or cardiovascular medications.

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Frequently asked questions about Brigham Tea (Mormon Tea / Ephedra viridis)

What is Ephedra viridis (Mormon tea)?

Ephedra viridis, often called Mormon tea or green ephedra, is a North American plant traditionally used as a mild tea for respiratory and general support. Unlike Asian ephedra (ma huang), it contains little or no ephedrine.

Is Mormon tea the same as ephedra (ma huang)?

No. The Chinese ephedra (ma huang) that contains stimulant ephedrine was banned in US weight-loss supplements due to cardiovascular risks. Ephedra viridis (Mormon tea) is a different, milder plant generally lacking ephedrine, traditionally used as a gentle beverage.

How is Ephedra viridis used?

It is traditionally used as a mild herbal tea; follow product guidance. It is not a stimulant weight-loss product.

Is Ephedra viridis safe?

As a traditional mild tea generally free of ephedrine, it is considered safer than ma huang. However, avoid any ephedra products marketed for weight loss or energy that contain ephedrine, which carries serious cardiovascular risks. Check with a doctor if unsure.

What is Brigham Tea?

Brigham tea, also called Mormon tea or green ephedra, is a leafless shrub native to the arid American Southwest. Important context: Ephedra viridis is botanically and chemically distinct from the Asian species Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang) — phytochemical analyses of New World Ephedra species, including E. viridis and E.

What is Brigham Tea used for?

Brigham Tea is researched primarily for Kidney/Urinary Tract. Brigham tea has a long history as a mild herbal beverage among Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin and early Mormon settlers in Utah, valued for its pleasant earthy flavor and place in regional folk traditions.

What is the recommended dosage of Brigham Tea?

The clinically studied dose is Traditional preparation: ~1 tsp dried stems steeped 10-15 minutes as a beverage tea; no clinically validated supplement dose exists. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Brigham Tea safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Brigham Tea is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Tannin content may cause stomach upset, nausea, or constipation in some users. Long-term high tannin intake may interfere with iron absorption. It may also interact with some medications. Brigham Tea is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Brigham Tea interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Theoretical interaction with diuretics due to mild diuretic-like folk use. Tannins may modestly reduce absorption of medications and minerals taken at the same time. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Brigham Tea?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Brigham Tea as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 2 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(2 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Caveney S, Charlet DA, Freitag H, Maier-Stolte M, Starratt AN. New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae). Am J Bot. 2001;88(7):1199-208.PubMedUsed to support: Phytochemical survey reporting ephedrine alkaloids are not detectable in New World Ephedra species (including E. viridis and E. nevadensis) and that these species contain other nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites.
  2. Ibragic S, Sofić E. Chemical composition of various Ephedra species. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2015;15(3):21-7. doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2015.539.PubMedUsed to support: Comparative review of alkaloid content across Ephedra species confirming wide species-to-species variability and the predominance of ephedrine in E. sinica vs other species.