Hoodia as a Weight Loss Supplement

There is an influx of fads, herbal remedies, supplements, weight loss pills, capsules, liquids, powder and nutrition bars that are littering the weight loss market offering false statements regarding their products while ripping apart their competition. Their really hasn't been a popular product on the market since the ephedra craze hit the diet market a few years back. The market has been in limbo since the product was pulled. Now, a new product has hit the scene with some of the same excitement that ephedra brought with it. This new product, known as Hoodia Gordonii, is credited with suppressing appetite to enable the user to cut calories, prompting a natural defense mechanism against curbing weight gain.

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus like plant, though it isn't a cactus at all. It is a succulent plant with clumps of upright green stems and purple flowers, giving it its "cactus like" resemblance. Hoodia Gordonii is found only in the semi desserts of South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Botswana. There are over 13 species of Hoodia plants, however, their existence has diminished drastically placing Hoodia on the CITES list for endangered flora and fauna species. The flowers have an unpleasant aroma of rotten meat while the stems have a bitter taste to them. pollination is a direct result of flies. It takes five years before Hoodia is mature enough for cultivation. This has a direct correlation with the elevated price tag often associated with products containing Hoodia.

The benefits associated with the Hoodia plant were discovered in 1779 by Col. Robert Jacob Gordon. However, indigenous people had been benefiting from its ability to treat indigestion and minor infections for years prior to this date. Hoodia Gordonii had a long kept secret that made the herb even more remarkable. It had appetite suppressing abilities. Hunters trekking long distances across the Kalahari Dessert in search of food would eat the meat of the Hoodia plant to suppress their appetite for food and water enabling them to go longer without it in their harsh environment.

In 1977, (CSIR) or South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, experimented and isolated the key ingredient for Hoodia's appetite suppressing characteristic, labeling it as P57.This was later patented in 1996. CSIR would eventually grant a United Kingdom based pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm to explore and isolate the active ingredient found in Hoodia extract to synthesize it into capsule or pill form. These efforts would later be collaborated with U.S. based pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer to expedite this process that would eventually lead to the rights to the primary ingredient being released in 2002.

As of 2007, there are four lab companies that are testing and verifying Hoodia in consumer products, much like the FDA would. The reason for this is their are many companies out there that claim that their product contains Hoodia Gordonii extract standardized to a certain percentage or mg. amount, which often has proved false. Again, the Hoodia plant is listed on CITES so the only way of exporting this product is to have a CITES certificate accompany the shipment. Moreover, a permit issued by the USDA needs to be possessed to transport this terrestrial plant. This makes the process of apprehending Hoodia by a mom and pop or lesser known company, very difficult to achieve. At least half of the companies marketing and promoting Hoodia products contained no Hoodia extract in their products.

The street rate for Hoodia used to be as high as $250.00 per kilogram back in 1997. A year later that price had dropped to $150.00 per kilo for wild crafted Hoodia and $85.00 per kilo for cultivated Hoodia Gordonii. Currently there are over 300 products sold worldwide containing Hoodia to some degree.

Due to lack of scientific evidence and regulatory approval, companies such as Goen Technologies, Health Canada, Phytopharm and Unilever still are purportedly promoting this product in pill, caplet, liquid tinctures, teas, coffee syrups and fruit bars. Alot of media coverage such as being the topic for discussion on 60 minutes, Extra and Consumer Reports combined with heavy marketing demands by nutritional supplement companies have prompted countries like Namibia to place a protected status on its population of Hoodia Gordonii.

As is the case with many other potential drugs, herbal remedies and supplements, more scientific evidence is needed plus having the backing of the Food and Drug Administration will help to aid in the validity of the product. However, with the claims and past history regarding this product being used for centuries, their seems to be some skepticism. As with any other medication, drugs, herb or supplement checking with your doctor before taking a product like this is highly regarded. Once again, taking Hoodia in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise program will only promote greater results than to take Hoodia all by itself.