The effects of hoodia on the central nervous system exhibit powerful potential for weight control, where behavior modification can reduce calorie intake. The San Bushmen report an energizing effect of hoodia, and they have used the plant during their strenuous hunting expeditions.

This implies that hoodia supplements would be safe when combined with aerobic exercise, a major factor in promoting weight loss and health, and in combating insulin resistance (the metabolic Syndrome X). One interesting, but apparently inconsistent, “side effect” of hoodia gordonii is its aphrodisiac properties.

In South Africa, the hoodia gordonii plant is processed most often by sun-drying the plant to produce powder or concentrates. These substances can be used as dietary supplement ingredients or perhaps as food ingredients.

Unfortunately, there is evidence emerging that bulk suppliers of some material used in hoodia supplements are providing “cactus-like” bulk material imported from Mexico or China. I have been involved in testing some bulk supply labeled hoodia and have found circumstances where steroidal glycoside content is very low, or even negligible, in some samples.

It seems prudent for manufacturers and marketers to use only hoodia gordonii from approved South African sources operating as government-approved cultivators. Recent directives from South Africa warn that the supply of hoodia has been outstripped by the demand. The response from the South African government has been to limit export permits to control and conserve hoodia resources. Therefore, purchasers should research their supply channel and test imported material to ensure they are supplying consumers with safe, effective hoodia.

Properly formulated Chromium supplements appear to alter the body function of appetite control in a manner that affords great promise for the “new, healthy diet revolution.” Hoodia may be ideal for use in combination with other supplements that can benefit weight control, such as green tea polyphenols and Chromium compounds. While more research may be required to fully understand hoodia’s mechanism of action in weight control, there appears to be mounting open-label experience of its use as a dietary supplement to suppress appetite, control weight and provide minor energizing effects, without any content of stimulant substances.