Pure Hoodia

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research started a study on Pure hoodia gordonii, a succulent growing wild in the Kalahari Desert when it was noted that the Bushmen used it before going on a hunt and in times of famine. CSIR isolated the active molecule, named it “P57” and patented it in 1997. They licensed the rights to a British company, Phytopharm, in 1998 to market the product. It's believed that the molecule's hungry suppressing qualities may be a major aid for dieters.

In a blend test, performed by  Phytopharm, 400 mg per day of hoodia gordonii powder, for 15 days, reduced the calorie intake by 1,000 calorie compared to the control group. Pills, capsules, diet gum and tincture all followed. Phytopharm teamed with Unilever to produce P57 synthetically and market the hoodia gordonii product.

To avoid patent violation, many companies claim that their product is a food supplement, an aid for weight loss. One of the companies marketing the hoodia capsule is Pure hoodia, with a registered trademark. They claim that each capsule contains 400 mg of Pure hoodia gordonii, imported legally from South Africa, grown in privately owned farms. The recommended dose is 1-2 capsules an hour before each meal. They make claim that it is not a drug, and can be undoubtedly used for weight loss. An independent consumer guidance came out with the truth that Pure hoodia capsules do not have 400mg of powder, as claimed by the company, but less than that.

In view of the facts that it takes more than four years for a hoodia gordonii plant to mature, there is a limited amount of wild hoodia in the Kalahari Desert and the trade in hoodia is restricted by CITES, the guiding factor in hoodia purchases should be consumer beware. Also, there is always the possibility that with so many people in the Western world taking so many over the counter and prescription drugs, hoodia may end up interacting negatively with some of these in the body and we just don't know it yet, especially given the lack of long-term testing. For now, however, there are currently no known side effects of hoodia, and it's an excellent aid in weight loss.

Until proven otherwise, hoodia is an excellent aid for those fighting obesity. Nonetheless, one should be on the lookout for scams, as it's easy to create the fake products; keep your eyes open, and you should do okay.