In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen noted that they used hoodia to suppress appetite. But it wasn't until 1963 when scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa's national laboratory, began studying hoodia. Initial results were promising -- lab animals lost weight after taking hoodia.

The South African scientists, working with a British company named Phytopharm, isolated the active ingredient in hoodia, a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. The scientists say the P57 molecule obtained from the Hoodia gordonii plant is estimated to be 100,000 times more powerful than sugar in its ability to signal the brain that your stomach is full. After getting a patent in 1995, they licensed p57 to Phytopharm. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on hoodia research.

Eventually pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (makers of Viagra) caught wind of hoodia and became interested in developing a hoodia drug. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop p57 to Pfizer for $21 million. Pfizer recently returned the rights to hoodia to Phytopharm, who is now working with Unilever.

Be careful where you get your information from
Most Hoodia information on the Internet is unreliable. After looking at Hoodia buyer's guides, Hoodia ratings, and Hoodia comparisons on the Internet, our advice is that you should be very cautious. These so-called Hoodia comparison sites have been secretly created by companies trying to sell you hoodia. They explain why the Hoodia in other products is inferior, even though there are no published reports showing that their top picks are more effective that the others.

Hoodia is NOT cheap
There has always been a demand for quick-fix, no-pain weight loss pills. After the ban on ephedra, the market was particularly ripe for the next new weight loss solution, preferably one that didn't have the same stimulating side effects as ephedra. The demand for Hoodia is great, but the supply is not. Until recently, Hoodia was only found in the wild in South Africa. Hoodia is difficult to grow. It requires 4-5 years to mature and temperatures in the range of 122F. The supply is scarce, which keeps costs high.

How should Hoodia be used?
Hoodia is best used an hour before meals with a glass of water. It's important to ensure adequate water intake, because Hoodia will also shut off your thirst mechanism. While many people notice the appetite suppressing effects within 1/2 hour of taking Hoodia, the consensus is that Hoodia can take up to 1 to 2 weeks to kick in for others. Some companies put a standard recommended dose on the bottle, but people often need far less or more than that amount. Some people who've used Hoodia say they need at least 1,200 milligrams per day to notice a difference. But it depends on a person's weight, diet, metabolism and lifestyle.

What about side effects?
Hoodia has no known side effects.

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The next scheduled update for this site is September 1st, 2007.