If one were to believe all the companies that source and package hoodia for use as a weight loss supplement, there are no complications or side effects of using hoodia at all. However, this does not take into account the use of hoodia along with any other medication or supplements. There is still not enough research on the product to state with authority that is absolutely safe for use by itself or together with other substances. Just because the African bushmen who have had it for centuries have had no complications is no yardstick say that it is absolutely safe because the circumstances and food habits that we have in other parts of the world are so different. Add to that the fact that they had it only to keep away hunger pangs because they couldn’t get food and the fact that now we have too much of food and we want to use something that keeps temptation away and you’ll see how different the two worlds are.
The company that is doing clinical research on the extract of the plant – the British pharmaceutical Phytopharm has found no evidence of complications and it has just completed the first phase of the research. There are four more phases to go and what the initial research has thrown up is that it is safe for healthy individuals. One has to of course wait to see what qualifies as a healthy individual. They do recommend that pregnant and nursing mothers stay away from hoodia gordonii. However, one still does not know if long term use could have complications show up. Even the San bushmen used it only on a need-to basis, not as an everyday addition to their diet.
There are studies yet to be done about the possible side effects in case it is used with any prescription drugs, any OTC medication or even any vitamins, supplements and natural herbal tablets. One cannot but help remembering the Ephedra problem when used with other stimulants. It is always good to make sure of all the possible reactions before it becomes a part of recommended weight loss diets. Unfortunately, many of the hoodia supplements being sold today contain other herbal powders or extracts as well and one cannot really tell whether this is a safe thing to do or whether it can be dangerous. Caution must be followed when it is something as unknown as this, besides being used for a totally different need in a totally different environment. Sadly, when it comes to weight loss, any new entrant brings with it such hope that one tends to push the practicalities aside and only focus on the hope for loss of weight.