The stem of Ephedra, for example, was used to relieve asthma symptoms, coughs, colds and allergies.

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The states of New York, California and Illinois have already banned the selling of ephedra.

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The FDA first considered limiting sales of ephedra in 1997 after scientists and consumer advocates started to raise concerns.

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The weight-loss busts are plenty: Meridia (heart attacks, strokes), Fen-phen (heart risk), Rimonabant (suicidal thoughts), ephedra (heart attacks, strokes).

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Citrus aurantium has seen a surge in use in weight-loss products since the banning of ephedra by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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But since the FDA moved to ban ephedra, the suit says, NVE's sales of these products have comprised less than 5% of total sales.

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Further, he points out, chemically similar drugs like the decongestent phenylpropanolamine (PPA) and the dietary supplement Ephedra have already been pulled from the market for heart risk.

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Citrus aurantium is similar in structure and function to ephedra.

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The court decided that the FDA may have proved that for higher doses of ephedra, as high as 100 milligrams, but not for the lower doses of 10 milligrams.

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It is often marketed as a safe alternative to ephedra, and many people assume that because it is a dietary supplement and not a drug, it must be safer.

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It has been named in lawsuits for its use of ephedra, a stimulant linked to heart attacks and strokes that was previously a component in some of its weight-loss products.

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In 2003 it was covered up by the media but later blipped briefly that the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Belcher, which was supposedly due to taking the herb Ephedra was actually due to heat stroke when he collapsed with a core temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit in Florida.

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