I’ll tell you.  Hoodia Gordonii is only found in 5 places around the globe.  Most commonly found in South Africa but also located inZimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and select parts North America, specifically California and Arizona.  With such a high demand and such a scarce plant, Hoodia Gordonii has now been placed on an endangered species list.  More specifically, CITES, which stands for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species”.  CITES has imposed various restrictions and regulations when it comes to exporting this special species of plant.

The most important part of this trade agreement is ensuring the survival of the Hoodia plant.  Therefore, before any company can harvest or export Hoodia Gordonii from South Africa, they must obtain a permit from the South Africa government.  The certificate is valid for 6 months.  If the certificate has not been used within that time, a new permit must be applied for.  In addition to having the certificate, each shipment that leaves South Africa must be accompanied by a CITES certificate.

So, while this all makes sense and companies are following the rules, it is our job to understand that the date on a CITES certificate need NOT be current for the product to be authentic.  There is a 6 month leeway.

Another thing to consider is that the company name printed on the certificate may not always be the same as the company selling the product.  Since only a select few companies are given a permit, these companies can buy it bulk quantities and sell to whatever other companies they want.  Also, since Hoodia is considered a supplement and not a drug, they are not regulated and it cannot be guaranteed the amount of actual Hoodia you are getting.  This is where lab tests come in handy.  Say you’ve found a company you want to buy from.  They proclaim 500mg of Hoodia per capsule, and you, being the diligent consumer go to check out the CITES certificate.  Sure enough, 500mg with CITES certified.  All this means the company receives hoodia that was authorized to ship.  Once it’s in the hands of the company who sells it, it could change the amount of hoodia per capsule.  So, CITES certificate is not the end in itself as far as the amount of real authentic hoodia in a particular product is concerned.

Hoodia is a popular diet supplement that most of us have heard of.  It is also very scarce and requires a permit to export. Unfortunately some companies take advantage of desperate dieters by selling fake Hoodia or claiming there is more Hoodia in the bottle than there actually is.

Here are some hints to help you steer clear of anything less than the best.

1.      Random Lab Testing.  Any upstanding seller of Hoodia will use an independent lab for testing their product and boast their results.  There results will be conclusive, there will either be Hoodia or there won’t.  The most respected independent lab is Alkemists Pharmaceuticals and their logo will be displayed on the packaging.

2.      All Natural.  Hoodia Gordonii is expensive.  Obviously, the more concentrated, the more expensive.  Some companies to save money, theirs and yours, will cut the amount of concentrate and add filler.  This is why it’s important to read the labels!  Know what you’re paying for.

3.      According to experts, it can take between 2,000-3,000mg of Hoodia Gordonii per day to effectively suppress an appetite.  Of course, everybody is different and every body is different and will react uniquely needing more or less of the Hoodia Gordonii supplement.  Considering most tablets contain only 400 mg, it makes sense to take the highest amount of milligrams to reduce the number of pills you will have to take in a day.  It’s important to check the dosage because of the varying amounts of concentrate and some capsules only contain 25mg!

4.      As long as we’re talking about concentrate, let’s talk about fillers.  Some companies have added additional ingredients like caffeine, green tea and other potentially beneficial ingredients which may help but are not necessary for appetite suppression.

5.      Where in the world is Hoodia Gordonii?  The plant is found primarily in 5 countries at the present time.  The majority comes from South Africa, in the Kalahari Desert.  Other origins include: Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and in some parts of the United States (namely, CA and AZ) If the supplement you are looking at comes from anywhere else, it is most likely not authentic.

6.      What’s in a name?  There are 13 different varieties of Hoodia, only one of which will suppress your appetite.  Make sure what you’re looking for has the full name of Hoodia Gordonii.

7.      How the ingredients are processed can be as important as the ingredient itself.  Look for the type that uses the aerial stems of the plant as they contain the active ingredient.

8.      We looked at dosing a little earlier; let’s come back to it again for a moment.  Testing is the only way to determine the potency.  The highest concentrate will have somewhere between .34%-.45% while some supplements get away with as little as .1% or less!  You can find the results of the lab testing on any reputable website selling the supplement.  They should have a form called High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

9.      If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.  Know the market.  An average monthly supply of Hoodia Gordonii will cost somewhere between $30-$60 depending on how much your body needs.  It’s too easy with too many loopholes to dupe consumers with low prices and inferior products.  Take the time to do the research.

10.  Look for the stamp of approval.  Hoodia is strictly monitored and exported.  You need to have a permit to collect Hoodia.  Any website that sells Hoodia should have their certificate (C.I.T.E.S. or “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” displayed on their site.  If it is blurred, hard to read or otherwise obscured, be wary.

The natural active ingredient, P57, tricks the brain into thinking its full.  If it works anything like the Depo shot tricking my body into thinking its pregnant, we’ve got a winner.  In all seriousness, just take your pill half an hour before you eat with a glass of water.  Depending on your specific body, it may take up to 14 days for the full effect to show, so don’t get discouraged!

Pfizer, the company famous for bringing us Viagra, has spend about $21 million dollars for the chance to create an active ingredient, which will mirror the effects of P57 and tell the body it doesn’t need anymore food.  Here, here Pfizer!

Have a reunion coming up?  A blind date?  Just want to lose the weight now, now, NOW?  Studies have shown that people using the Hoodia diet pill cut their calorie intake by up to 1000 calories a day!  That’s about 5 lbs a week!  Not bad for poppin a pill.

Hoodia Gordonii is part of a rather large genus and it takes professionals to distinguish the difference between the many different plants.  Take away, don’t try this at home kids. Hoodia is a plant now on the endangered species list.  CITES (convention of Illicit Trade of Endangered Species) is protecting the plant, making it illegal to gather Hoodia in the wild without a permit.  Getting a permit from the South African government is not a feat easily achieved.  I think it involves a javalan throwing competition, a tiger chasing event and kniting a loin cloth???

Approved Hoodia Gordonii will be listed on the CITES website and show their permit (to prevent scam artists selling baking soda) so you can be sure your getting authentic Hoodia.
In search of the secret to how “Bushmen” staved off hunger, CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) observed the food the locals ate.  They were astounded to discover the animals they tested it on (all in the name of weight loss people) had only one side effect: weight loss.  CSIR concluded the plant was non-toxic and a natural appetite suppressant. By 1997, CSIR isolated the active ingredient and gotten a patent for P57.  Named because it was the 57 Product CSIR had spent money on, to Phytopharm.

In many different forms, Hoodia is a genus of 13 ( thirteen) species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae. The “stem succulents” can be described as “cacti form” since they are so similar to the cactus family although they are not related.

Hoodia Gordonii is approximately 45 cm tall with spined stems and sometimes saucer shaped, flesh colored flowers and emits a strong unpleasant scent.

Taking care of a Hoodia Gordonii does not require much watering or tending.

Since its original home is in the desert and it is a cactus like plant, too much water will cause it to rot. In case of rotting, you will need to cut away the dead and decaying parts of the plant and seal in the healthy parts of the stem with a sealer and treat it with a good fungicide.

Allow it to completely callus before trying to re root the clippings. This plant will tolerate some shade, but thrives in full sunshine.

Mealy bugs are another thing to consider when caring for this plant. To prevent an attack on the roots, it is a good idea to soak the soil with pesticides once a month.

To speed the growth process along, you can dip the first couple of centimeters of the healthy stems into a rooting hormone. Next, place these cuttings into clean river sand and spray once in a while with a fine mist. To check to see if your cuttings have taken root, GENTLY tug. Resistance is a good sign your plant is starting to grow healthy and strong. Most people are afraid to tug the steams, but it actually is a very good exercise to test and extend on the plants résistance.

As you can imagine, Hoodia is scarce and therefore expensive.  In this “you get what you pay for” market, this point hits home for Hoodia users.

Hoodia Powder comes in two forms.  “Whole plant” powder is what it sounds like and the whole plant is ground into powder. It is the cheapest and considered the least effective form of Hoodia because it contains so much ineffective parts of the plant, such as the skin and sometimes the roots.

The second form of powder is called the “Core” powder in which only the core, the purest form of Hoodia is used.  This is the closest thing to the real deal you will find and it will cost you, but I’m sure it’s worth it.  These powders can easily be added to green tea, coffee or natural juice drinks for easy ingestion.

Hoodia Capsules are another option for those seeking refuge from hunger pangs and sugar cravings.  This is the form most chosen by Hoodia users, probably because it is the easiest to use.  Just pop a pill with a glass of water a couple times a day and forget about it.  Of course, the actual number of pills you take will depend on the strength of the pills and your body’s own ability to metabolize the ingredients.

Liquid Hoodia or Hoodia tincture is another method of using Hoodia.  How the liquid was created was by taking the powdered form and soaking in water and glycerin (or vinegar) mix.  Some other variations of this include soaking the powder in an alcohol and water solution.  You can tell by just reading the label if you are purchasing the non-alcoholic version.  It will be clearly labeled and the ingredients will include vinegar.  Believe it or not, the non-alcoholic version is preferred because it tastes better.

P57 Hoodia Extract is the active ingredient in the Hoodia plant.  Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company now has the exclusive patent on P57 and have been working on a way to single out the P57 molecule to use in their supplements.  This is important to know because should they succeed in extracting the P57, the concentrate will be 100% P57 and not a 20/1 ratio. P57 Hoodia will only be available through products made by Phytopharm and their sister company Unilever which owns the SlimFast brand name. The company hopes to have this product out on the market soon!

While Hoodia can be a wonderful diet aid, it is not a cure all. Here are a few things you can do to help kick those calories to the curb!
1. Exercise. It’s not the end all be all. In fact, studies have shown that it is more beneficial to stay away from hi fat foods than it is to exercise, when it comes to weight loss. Of course, exercising is a good habit to get into because it will boost your energy, build muscle, help shape your body and eventually help you to lose weight.
2. Avoid empty calories. While Hoodia is an appetite suppressant, your body does need fuel. Your body will need food of sustenance. Try to avoid sodas, alcohol, chips, chocolate and candies. Instead, try a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts.
3. Water. H2O yeah. Water is an essential component to any diet. Any lifestyle for that matter. Water is a good filler and good for you. If you don’t like the taste of water, try dressing it up with a flavor packet (make sure to read the labels!) add a slice of lemon and a straw. It’ll do wonders!
4. Indulge. In moderation. If you think you’re going to go off the deep end and blow the whole diet by eating an entire bag of chips or the rest of your kids Halloween candy, just have a bite. One or two bites to savor on your tongue can save a diet. It’s better for you to indulge a little then completely deny yourself any treats and will often lead to binge behavior.

The Hoodia Gordonii plant is often mistaken as cactus because they look much like cactus. Among the many varieties of Hoodia, Hoodia Gordonii has gained great fame as an appetite suppressant. It became more popular when people realized that it actually works. Currently, there are a number of companies that promote Hoodia products. However, one of the pharmaceutical development companies is eager to sooner or later control the Hoodia market. Phytopharm, which is a British based company, has received the patent to produce and distribute the Hoodia products worldwide. They have joined hands with Unilever to introduce new Hoodia products.

Both the companies presently are in the third stage that calls for supply chain extension and clinical safety studies. This a great budding market as there are a number of obese people all over the world hoping to lose weight. Phytopharm and Unilever are setting their roots to monopolize the weight loss market in the coming future as they have a great weapon – Hoodia, in their clutches.

The question everywhere is when these companies would begin to produce the Hoodia products to be sold in the market. The San Tribes have been using Hoodia since ages and have had no side effects. Whether the San Tribe will profit or not, the Phytopharm and the Unilever will definitely earn billions.

The new Hoodia will not work any magic for you. It is not going to burn your body fat while you’re sleeping. It only suppresses your appetite. If a person reduces the calorie intake, he automatically starts getting hungry. What Hoodia does is, it suppresses these hunger pangs and thus makes you feel normal even when you are on a diet. This might seem very ordinary, but it is a great benefit. The best part of your diet is not cheating, and Hoodia help you to do exactly that. The results you get from Hoodia might not be astonishing but they are indeed achieved, and that itself is the aim of any diet. Having that said, your best bet is to try products with only real authentic hoodia for the very best of results.

As per a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission, the claims made by them were false and was not proved by any reliable scientific research. Under the proposed agreement, Diet Coffee Inc. and its principals are banned from declaring that any product makes people lose weight without cutting their calorie intake and increasing physical exercise. It also forbids them from representing that any product results in weight loss, reduces fat, curbs appetite or any other health related benefit or efficacy representation unless it is factual, not deceptive and verified by reliable scientific proof. It also mentions that they are forbidden from lying about the contents, validity, results or analysis of any test related to the products. The settlement also contains a monetary judgment of $923,910 that is suspended based on the defendant’s incapability to pay. However, full judgment will be forced if they are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

The defendants had advertised Slim Coffee on the radio, television, the internet and as well as the newspaper and magazines. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint and specified the final orders was 5-0. The complaint and the final orders were filed in the U.S. District Court.

A few people might like to use products that include Caralluma fimbriata. The reason is not because Caralluma fimbriata is more effective than Hoodia. Their choice is most possibly due to the supply of the Caralluma. It is very difficult to look for products that contain real Hoodia Gordonii. The reason behind this is that the Hoodia gordonii is a rare plant and is fond only in South Africa and it there are strict rules regarding the export of Hoodia. Caralluma fimbriata on the other hand has no strict rules for manufacturer acquisition.

Caralluma fimbriata products:

Growing Popularity: The Caralluma fimbriata is slowly becoming popular. Caralluma fimbriata is a succulent plant, in the cactus family, that has been used as a natural appetite suppressant in India for centuries. It’s a new arrival in the family of cactii and succulent plants that are becoming increasingly popular for their appetite suppressant, and weight loss properties, as well as their ability to lower blood sugar. There are a few websites and health stores that sell some Caralluma fimbriata products. You will not need a doctor’s prescription to buy Caralluma fimbriata products as they are mostly natural and do not contain any chemical addictives. Thus there would be no side effects either.

Selecting the Products: The only trouble you may face, would be to find out the right products. Though there is enough raw plant supply, there are still producers who make you fail with products that do not actually work. It would be difficult to manufacture authentic natural appetite suppressers. If you wish to find the right product then you could go through some consumer product reviews. The best way of getting information about the product you want to use is by asking people who make use it.

More information -http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/a/caralluma.htm