Herbal Group to Curb Ads

WASHINGTON —  Herbal “Ecstacy,” the pill touted as a natural high, isn’t safe and can have side effects, including death, the Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday.

In a settlement with the FTC, the Southern California manufacturer agreed to stop making explicitly false claims about Ecstacy’s risks and to include in its ads a warning about potential health problems. Some states already have barred or restricted the marketing of products like Ecstacy.

Venice-based Global World Media Corp. and its president, Sean Shayan, also agreed to stop promoting Ecstacy and similar products for their “mind-altering effects” to a predominantly young audience, the FTC said.

“Despite evidence of those health risks and at least one death of a college student in Florida, which was directly attributable to taking a large dose of a product similar to Ecstacy, the company continued to promote this product as a safe and natural high,” said Jodie Bernstein, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The main ingredient in Herbal Ecstacy is the herb ephedra, or mahuang, the FTC said. Ephedra supplements can harm the nervous system and heart, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is crafting a rule that limits the amount of ephedra in a supplement.

Shayan couldn’t be reached for immediate comment.