Side effects are unintentional and usually undesirable effects that accompany the beneficial effects of drugs or herbs. Most prescription medications and many herbal supplements have side effects.
But does hoodia gordonii have side effects? The answer seems to be NO.
The San tribe have used hoodia gordonii for thousands of years to suppress appetite while hunting (or during times of famine). It is interesting to note that, to the San, hoodia gordonii isn't just an appetite suppressant. They consider it to be a food.
In addition to suppressing the appetite, the San believe hoodia gordonii also suppresses the sense of thirst. They also hold that it's an aphrodisiac! These could be considered side effects, though neither is particularly undesirable.
In South Africa, hoodia gordonii is so safe it's not even considered an herb – it is classified as a food item, like fruits or vegetables.
According to experiments done on both human and animal subjects, no significant side effects were recorded. This means that the anti-thirst and aphrodisiacal properties of hoodia gordonii as reported by the San were not recorded during testing.
It is possible that the San-reported side effects are authentic but are only present when whole hoodia gordonii is eaten as opposed to hoodia extract, which was used in the lab studies.
Most fat burners and appetite suppressants have a host of potential side effects. Remember how the FDA yanked Ephedra off the shelves? Fat burners can cause jitteriness, elevated blood pressure, lack of sleep – a veritable host of side effects.
Hoodia does not work like fat burners to elevate the metabolism. Hoodia gordonii doesn't affect the human metabolism at all. Instead, it turns off the appetite. You don't eat because you don't want to eat.
Hoodia gordonii doesn't seem to have any side effects. It is one of the safest dietary supplements available, bar none. Not only have the San peoples used it for millennia with no ill effects, none of the recent tests performed on hoodia gordonii point to any unwelcome side effects.
