Has Hoodia Been Proven Safe?
It has been claimed by almost all the manufacturers of the Hoodia products that they are absolutely free from any form of side effects. Nevertheless, you can never be sure of something unless you have any personal observation. Simply by relying on the facts of the African Bushmen, who have been profited by the medicine, we should not base our judgments. Who knows whether these people suffered from any side effects or not? Even if they did have high blood pressure or inflated heart rate, they would not have treated it. Furthermore, they might not be aware of the side effects at all and kept concentrating on the purpose of the plant.
Till now none of the organizations have been able to put forward substantial statistics that may allow Hoodia products to be passed as weight reducing supplements. The major problem with the Hoodia Gordonii is that it has not been in the market for substantial period of time, to evaluate or search for its side effects. Even though it had once been considered to cause liver damage due to prolonged usage, it has not been substantiated yet. Thus, for the people who might be nursing or pregnant, it would be better to consult your doctor before using the supplements.
One of the major concerns related to the usage of medical supplements is the problem of drug reactions. At certain situations it may be seen that some medication may not be taken while, others are being continued. Similar concerns come up with the usage of the Hoodia Gordonii plant extracts, but until date nothing untoward has been reported. At the same time, the diabetes patients have been strictly warned to stay away from the supplements, not because of its reactions, but because of the manner it works. Due to the sudden drop in the blood sugar level a diabetic patient may worsen his condition and have serious problems.
Furthermore, in certain cases the Hoodia products may be really harmful as they kill your hunger as well as your thirst. In the long run if you stay away from water for quite a long duration you may be dehydrated, and as a result develop serious conditions. Along with all these conditions the manufacturers are not always true about what they sell. Some of the Hoodia products launched in the market have none or minimal quantity of Hoodia Gordonii in them and the rest is all fillers.
The Hoodia Gordonii plant, native to African Kalahari Desert can be shipped abroad only through the certification of the CITES. Thus, while buying the products you must make sure to note certain things, like the certification, along with independent testing reports. Make sure that the numbers on the package and bottles match that of the testing date. Try not to take up medicine supplements that have other interesting complexes in them, as they are more often fillers with minute Hoodia content. Always try to consult a doctor before using these supplements, as they are best suited for healthily eating patients.