The most pressing concern is the conflicting research. Another concern is the lack of education regarding the use of hoodia gordonii and related supplements.

The best that can be done right now is to report the disadvantages and advantages of using it. This is based on the general experience of using hoodia in one or a variety of forms.

Advantages

Historical evidence of the effectiveness of the hoodia plant in delaying hunger is documented. It in fact was used as a much needed emergency supply of food. It was used to survive harsh desert conditions during times when food was not plentiful.

The indigenous tribes of South Africa also used hoodia gordonii on long hunting trips. It seemed to never fail as a way to curb hunger and it also helps quench thirst.

New ways of processing have made supplements made from this plant more widely available. More people from around the world can now experience the weight loss benefit by way of appetite suppression.

Disadvantages

Hoodia products often have an odor. In fact, one source says some of the hoodia supplements smell like rotten meat. Furthermore, although there is historical documentation of the success of this plant source curbing hunger, science is still behind.

For one, a wide array of supplements made from this plant are still not properly tested. If they are the results often are inconclusive. Certain supplements made with hoodia gordonii are also not very potent-not at all as potent as the aerial stems that are just harvested.

Conclusion

This is as best of a conclusion as can be given at the moment. You are responsible for your own choices when it comes to using various dietary supplements, including those made with hoodia gordonii.

If you want to learn more about hoodia-either in favor of it or against it-ask your doctor. It is not wise to start a new health supplement if you have not even had a doctor’s checkup in awhile.

Dieticians and nutrition specialists may also be a great source of help. Likewise, so would an herbalist or alternative medicine doctor. In the mean time you are recommended to just take as much of the hoodia gordonii as it says on the label and/or as much as usually is considered safe or effective (1,500 to 3,500 mg).

One of the reasons that hoodia research is so very challenging is because it takes quite awhile for the plant that it is harvested from to mature (about five years). According to some reports, it is the flowering portion of the hoodia gordonii plant that is most effective.

However, the ability to research the effectiveness of hoodia as an appetite suppressant is not totally hopeless. Obtaining facts about the working power of this plant is possible even though some news sources attribute news about this place to an overabundances hoopla but very little science.

The most substantial proof of its working power is in how it curbs a person’s appetite. This has been documented in several ways. For instance, you may have seen many times in the media the story of how reporters have gone on excursions to South Africa.

One news reporter for sure has tried it first hand. Some others since then have then more likely followed suit. However, the one media presentation you hear about most often is the one that 60 Minutes had presented a few years back.

This 60 Minutes report is one that is most in favor of hoodia gordonii. Again, since it takes so long for the plant to mature researching its effects is very challenging. This leads into the next challenge about hoodia research.

It is very expensive. Of course, that is the case with any clinical trial. However, the complication of waiting for the plant to mature with the expense of research it just makes matters doubly difficult.

Another Answer

One of the most prevalent proofs of the hoodia gordonii effectiveness is its historical use. In fact, this is often the case. History often is far more advanced than science-as far as research is concerned anyway.

Along those lines, you should know that the history of indigenous tribes such as the ones located in South Africa was passed to later generations orally. What took place in early times was often not written down.

Still, the story was told and the fact that it was told orally does not necessarily make it any less accurate. Mistakes in writing could have been made just as well.

As it turns out, many reports indicate the use of hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant. You may have even heard the story. You may have heard that hunters used it on long trips when food was sparse.

After this study was completed, reports were made that this plant actually helped suppress appetites in lab animals. The active component that works in this way is the steroidal glycoside, which has the P57 enzyme in it.

The scientists who were in charge of these studies worked with the British Phytopharm Company. Then, in 1995 Phytopharm received a license to obtain this P57 source after spending more than $20 million on research.

The popularity of 60 minutes heightened after it was introduced on 60 minutes. This was after a media crew made a trip to South Africa to try this plant. Leslie Stahl is one of the person’s who became a spokesperson for the benefits of this plant.

This was all done in an effort to provide more evidence of the validity of the claims that this plant is actually helpful for suppressing appetite. It in fact has helped many people, and not just the animals who were tested in lab-even if there is not yet any very much scientific evidence yet of its affect on humans.

Products

Today hoodia is found in capsule, power, liquid, or tea forms. It sometimes is sold as is, and in its purest form it seems to work the best. It also sometimes is mixed with other quality ingredients such as green tea that helps build metabolism.