What the most important information about Hoodia
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Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you
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have diabetes or if you are taking a medicine to control your blood sugar levels,
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have any heart problems or take any heart medicines,
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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,
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have anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder.
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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.
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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
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Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like succulent plant, native to the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.
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Hoodia has received a lot of publicity in recent times for its natural appetite suppressant properties.
How Hoodia works
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The appetite suppressant effects of Hoodia were first observed in 1937 by a Dutch anthropologist studying the primitive San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you have
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diabetes,
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heart disease or high blood pressure,
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder,
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anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder.
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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.
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Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
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Do not take Hoodia without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
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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.
How to take Hoodia
The use of Hoodia in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/ health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.
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Take Hoodia as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
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Store Hoodia as directed on the package.
What happens in case of missing a dose
What happens incase of missing a overdose
Seek emergency medical attention.
What to avoid while taking Hoodia
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There are no known restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking Hoodia, unless otherwise directed by your health care provider.
The possible Hoodia side effects
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Hoodia is not a stimulant, and has no known side effects.
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Hoodia appears to be safe for most people although further scientific studies are required to establish the safety profile of Hoodia extract.
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Talk to your doctor about any side effect that you develop.
Other drugs which affect Hoodia
While there are no known interactions between Hoodia and other medicines, it is recommended you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal/ health supplements.
