The Side Effects of Hoodia - Is It Too Good to be true?
Hoodia is such a hot supplement these days, but many persons across the world can’t help it nut wonder, are their any side effects for hoodia gordonii?
Here’s what members of the scientific community do know:
Firstly, the Bushmen of South Africa that first discovered the hoodia gordonii plant and have been using it for medicinal purposes for thousands of years have been interviewed and have said that they have not experienced any known negative side effects.
Secondly, current research states that hoodia gordonii does not stimulate the nervous system like many other herbs used in weight loss supplements (hoodia gordonii is not a cactus, but it is classified as a succulent). For example, most people who take weight loss pills are probably aware that ephedra as just one example was banned a while back….because herbs that stimulate the nervous system can be very powerful and cause such things as: racing heart beats, palpitations, elevated blood pressure among others…
In short, there is no known toxicity and no side effects for hoodia gordonii.
Now, having said all of this, this does not mean that there cannot be hoodia gordonii side effects.
Just one thing to keep in mind is that the Sans Bushmen are a primitive nomadic tribe of hunters and gatherers, and, as such, they do not use any medications like we do in the Western world. Only time will tell if hoodia gordonii interacts unfavorably with prescription medications. So, if you take any medications of any kind — prescription or OTC — then tell your doctor you intend to use hoodia because the no side effects for hoodia gordonii rule may no longer apply.
People with diabetes should be cautious about using hoodia. One of the theories about how hoodia works is that it tricks the brain into thinking that it has enough blood sugar. Without proper feedback regulation, it’s possible that a person’s blood sugar could drop dangerously low while taking hoodia. And with the regular hunger mechanism turned off, the normal warning signs may be suppressed, until it’s too late.
Hoodia is believed to suppress not only appetite but thirst. There have been unconfirmed reports of shepherds in Africa who took hoodia to take the edge off hunger pains, but died of dehydration because they didn’t feel thirsty.
And as a general precaution, because the safety in pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with liver or kidney disease hasn’t been established, these people in particular should avoid hoodia.
