In 1933, Research Corporation leased land in Southern California with the purpose of growing ephedra, a stimulant that constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate, stimulates the brain, increases metabolism, and expands bronchial tubes. Ephedra is a traditional herbal remedy in Chinese medicine, used to treat asthma and hay fever, as well as the common cold.
In cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Research Corporation planted thousands of ephedra seeds of different species in order to determine which would provide the best agricultural results. After several years, Research Corporation reached the conclusion that while ephedra could be produced in the U.S., it could not be produced profitably. The project was discontinued.
In 2004, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-containing supplements which have been linked to serious side effects and a number of deaths.