While relatively new to North Americans and Europeans, Hoodia (specifically, Hoodia Gordonii) has been used for centuries by southern Africans. Researchers first learned about Hoodia while studying indigenous foods of South Africa. The plant is a stem succulent - it's appearance is similar to a cactus but technically it is not a cactus. They grow up to a meter in height with spiky needles and the aroma of the flower is often described as strong and unpleasant.



Within the Hoodia plant family are many other species, some of which grow in backyard gardens. Hoodia Gordonii is the only variation of the species that may help with weight loss. In southern Africa the Bushmen ate the plant to suppress their appetite, notably when going on extended hunting trips. This example of the traditional use of Hoodia lends strong credibility to modern claims about its effectiveness in weight loss programs.

Hoodia first came to light in 2003 after BBC and CBS ran stories on it. Today it can be found on the market as a nutritional supplement in pill form. Given the number of people who struggle with their weight, it's easy to see why so many find this new product exciting. While more studies need to be done, some studies have shown positive results. People have experienced weight loss without the hunger pangs they often have on a diet.

A clinical test involving a group of obese people was conducted - the subjects were given Hoodia and told to remain on their couches eating, reading and watching TV. They were happy to discover they had reduced their calorie intake and lost weight. Those sensational test results encouraged many companies to sell Hoodia-based nutritional products. Talk show gossip about TV actresses using Hoodia only added fuel to the fire as people raved about the hot new health product.

Today, with the high demand, pharmaceutical companies are working to develop extracts of the Hoodia plant. P57 is the active ingredient of Hoodia Gordonii, and extensive efforts are underway to develop synthetic variations of P57. Up till now this has proven to be an expensive and difficult process. Due to their lack of success creating synthetic Hoodia, manufacturers are focusing their efforts on developing the natural Hoodia plant.

The problem is that the Hoodia Gordonii plant grows only in a small region in southern Africa, and it is now a threatened plant. There are tight restrictions on the sale of Hoodia Gordonii extracts, and only authorized parties are allowed to market these extracts. Not surprisingly, the price of Hoodia has risen in recent years as the demand for this apparent weight-loss wonder drug, has sky-rocketed.

If Hoodia works as well as many claim it does, it could have quite an impact on the multi-billion dollar diet industry. No studies have presented conclusive evidence about harmful side effects from consuming Hoodia. However, further research is needed to more clearly demonstrate the extent to which Hoodia safely suppresses appetite. When combined with a proper diet and adequate exercise, people may experience better weight control without the hunger pangs.

Hoodia testing may be ongoing, but it is already available for purchase everywhere. There is already a massive group of satisfied Hoodia users around the world. It's obvious these users don't require more testing before they decide to use it. They have happily found Hoodia to be their own weight loss solution. After all, isn't a user's personal experience with a product the deciding factor in its use? Obviously Hoodia users are satisfied with their results.