Sida cordifolia as a substitute for ephedra sinica?

[Intezam]

Quote from this 2009 thread

Try some real ephedra I've heard the plant is usually better because it doesn't cause as much blood pressure spikes and jitters.

Now ephedra sinica herb has become another watched herb/controlled substance, it's rather slow growing, and/or not available at all, we learned that sida cordifolia has almost the exact same actives and also grows much faster. However that statement by Kannamate causes some concern.....:?

We didn't want to bump the old thread and we haven't seen Kannamate around....and he has only 'heard about it' ....so....

Also we noticed both ground *bala herb powder (sida cordifolia) and 'fermented' bala herb powder being sold in the market. What's the difference between the two (fermented vs non-fermented)? Does anyboday know??

Does the fermenting reduce/change some of the above mentioned effects? If these are real. Thanks in advance. 8)

*bala is the Indian name of s. cordifolia