Hoodia

Generic Name: Hoodia gordonii

How does Hoodia work?

• The appetite suppressant effects of Hoodia were first observed in 1937 by a Dutch anthropologist studying the primitive San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert.
• It was noticed that the nomadic Bushmen, (who call it Xhoba) ate the stem of the Hoodia plant to stave off hunger during long hunting trips in the sparsely vegetated area.
• The active ingredient in Hoodia is the appetite-suppressing molecule, P57, which is licensed to the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm who are researching its potential as an anti-obesity drug.
• Scientists from Phytopharm say P57 acts on the brain in a manner similar to glucose. It tricks the brain into thinking you are full even when you have not eaten, reduces interest in food and delays the time before hunger sets in. Who should not take Hoodia?
• Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you have
• diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder.
• Talk to your doctor before taking Hoodia if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or herbal/ health supplements.
• Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
• Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• There is no information available regarding the use of Hoodia by children. Do not give any herbal/ health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor

What is the most important information I should know about Hoodia?

• Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you have diabetes or if you are taking a medicine to control your blood sugar levels, have any heart problems or take any heart medicines, have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder or are taking a medicine to increase or decrease the clotting of your blood such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or heparin, have anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder.

• You may not be able to take Hoodia, or you may require special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions or are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Hoodia has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/ or advantages of Hoodia may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/ health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/ health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination. What is Hoodia?
• Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like succulent plant, native to the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.
• Hoodia has received a lot of publicity in recent times for its natural appetite suppressant properties.

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