In the recent years Hoodia Gordonii has become so immensely popular that you will find several materials related to the item. It has been covered through several media and there are vast information regarding the plant over the internet. Lesley Stahl being the first reporter to have introduced the plant over to the Western world had herself been in the news for quite some time. Along with her crew members, Stahl had visited the native regions and had the opportunity to try the plant herself. According to her there were no side effects, except for the fact that she did not feel hungry even for the next meal that she was supposed to have. This however, did not bring down her energy and she kept on with her work.
After this incident of the CBS channel reporter, BBC had sent their own reporters, who encountered similar occurrences. By their version they stayed without food for the next 24 hours of having taken the Hoodia plant of the Kalahari Desert. As reported, the Bushmen native to the region has been using these plants for over thousand of years. They use these plants to curb their hunger and thirst when they are about to embark on a long journey or going on a hunting game. Although they do not seem to have recorded any side effects, it is true that they have also not been tested for any of the side effects that could occur.
The Phytopharm Company has the patent to the extraction of the Hoodia Gordonii molecules, to control the diet of individuals. They have cleared the substance to be used as a dietary supplement but nothing more. When the companies tried to bring about the synthetic products, it seemed that it would cost very harshly and thus the entire thought was dropped soon.
There have been several trials and experiments by other firms like that of the Unilever Corporation, which is working with the Phytopharm Company. They had planned to launch the synthetic products and used several volunteers and animal to test out the results. It all showed that with the true strain of the Hoodia Gordonii p57 molecule people had much less appetite than they usually had. The most successful outcome was with the rats, which eat almost everything near them; they too avoided food after the dose of the molecule. Are there hoodia side effects??
As far as the FDA is concerned, they have not yet confirmed the usage of Hoodia Gordonii a legal product, but do not prohibit its usage as supplements. They have failed to test the plant as it does not fall under their testing guidelines and approvals. Till date there are almost no complains of side effects from Hoodia usage. Although there were rumors about potential damage after long term use nothing has been recorded. The supplement ahs received great hype in the recent times and most rightly deserves to get so. Until and unless you use it for yourself, you would never know the true impact of the Hoodia Gordonii.
Consult with your doctor before taking any medicine!