Basic Information About Hoodia Gordonii

A November 21, 2004 report on 60 Minutes by CBS correspondent Lesley Stahl featured Hoodia gordonii as a strange little plant that takes your appetite away.

The Hoodia is a small succulent plant, cactus-like in form, which grows in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. It takes about four to five years for a Hoodia gordonii to produce flowers and be ready for harvest.

In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studied the indigenous San Bushmen who ate the stems of the Hoodia gordonii, one of the species of Hoodia, to alleviate their hunger during long hunting trips.

· Studies on Hoodia gordonii and P57

In 1963, the South African San Council and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) committed themselves to the conservation of Hoodia gordonii. The plant is highly demanded worldwide and is in danger of being over-harvested. With their combined effort, certification is now required as proof that a product is authentic Hoodia gordonii.

Hoodia gordonii has been discovered to contain an active ingredient—a steroidal glycoside called P57. P57 is a compound that acts like glucose in the body. It makes your brain think that you are full although you have eaten a morsel only.

Since 1995, P57 has been licensed to Phytopharm, which is a British pharmaceutical company. Phytopharm is researching the possibilities of using P57 as an anti-obesity drug.

Eventually, in 1998, Phizer, another pharmaceutical company, was sub-licensed the rights to develop P57. But Phizer soon returned the rights to Phytopharm, which is now in collaboration with Unilever.

· Hoodia gordonii as a Herbal Supplement

Hoodia gordonii is available in different forms. There are capsules, liquids, pills, powders, syrups, and teas. These can be bought online or from health food stores.

Before you invest in Hoodia gordonii products, make sure that it is made of 100% Hoodia gordonii extract.

· Side Effects of Taking Hoodia gordonii

There are no known direct side effects resulting from intake of Hoodia gordonii products. However, some manufacturers add other chemicals and additives in their Hoodia products. These additions include caffeine, ephedrine, and guarana—stimulants that can cause anxiety, diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, and insomnia.

Hoodia gordonii suppresses appetite and thirst, therefore pregnant and breast-feeding women, children, diabetics, and the sick are not advised to take the product unless they have consulted a doctor first.

Similarly, Hoodia gordonii is not meant to be taken in large doses too often or else you will suffer from starvation and/or dehydration.