Herbs vary in strength and potency from someting as innocuos as ginger and garlic to something as powerful as Ephedra. Unlike Syntesized Medications, herbs are quite gentle on the system. The over-the-counter pseudo Ephedra cold medications are 15 times more potent than the herb. When used properly, the absence of side affects can not be overstated. Because of their purity and gentleness the effects gained are prolonged and stable.