Weight loss is not an easy task, especially when you have hunger pangs or are constantly thinking about food. In fact it is hard to concentrate on your daily activities if your stomach is rumbling or making odd noises. Many drugs have been created over the years. Many have proved to be ineffective or have undesirable side effects. For instance, amphetamines were initially prescribed as a weight loss drug. They are now illegal and thought to prematurely age the body's organs if used repeatedly. However a type of medicine has evolved, known as anorectics. There are many branded, synthetically manufactured medicines that act as an anoretics or appetite suppressants. A relatively new product that acts as an appetite suppressant is the natural Hoodia Gordonii cactus. Weight loss with hoodia gordonii cactus has had some positive results and many favorable press stories have been written about it. This article will cover the background of this plant and how it is used to aid weight loss.

Hoodia gordonii cactus was first reported on by the BBC and then a 60 minutes special was done on it by CBS. They described the appetite suppressing qualities of the cactus and traced it's usage back to the Sans Bushmen in Southern Africa. It is thought that the Sans Bushmen have been using the cactus for hundreds of years to ward off hunger during long hunting and foraging expeditions in arid landscapes. Phytopharm, a pharmaceutical company, was given the opportunity to synthesize the active ingredient in the Hoodia Gordonii cactus. It published an initial report suggesting that humans that took a supplement made of Hoodia Gordonii cactus consumed about 1000 calories less per day than users of a placebo supplement.

Since then Phytopharm have found it difficult to synthesize the hoodia gordonii cactus. There has not been any conclusive scientific tests on the cactus either. In fact the medical community has not endorsed Hoodia as a weight loss product at this stage. This could be because there is not enough published research to say if the cactus is effective or otherwise.

This means that most evidence is purely anecdotal or journalistic. This is obviously open to spin by companies that sell the Hoodia Gordonii cactus. It also suggests that it may or may not work for you. In the end, you may want to take the conservative option and stay away from hoodia or try it out to see how it works for you.

As yet there have been no side effects to taking the supplement. The obvious side effects that may result in taking it are thought to be when a user takes too much or is careless. Overdosing on hoodia gordonii cactus could lead to dehydration as the active ingredient, P57, will convince the brain that it is not thirsty or hungry. Thus it is important to stick closely to the dosage instructions that come with the supplement and make sure that you drink liquids at a normal rate, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Given the positive press that the cactus has received, it's price has gone up dramatically and it is one of the most expensive plant supplements around. It is also becoming rare as people recognize the value that it has. There is evidence of exploitation of the plant and possible extinction. Protective measures have been created at a governmental level. This translates to the fact that any company that uses the cactus to create hoodia gordonii diet pills needs to have a certificate from the exporting nation and a license to import it.

If you decide to try Hoodia Gordonii diet pills, it is important that you know that the company that supplies the product has this documentation. This will ensure that their product is genuine and you are getting the real Hoodia Gordonii cactus to give yourself the best possible chance to lose weight.