Hoodia is a succulent plant native to Southern Africa. The extracts from this plant are used to make capsules, powders, patches, and chewable tablets. This article provides information about whether the hoodia patches work or not.
Hoodia is the extract of a plant called Hoodia gordonii, which belongs to the cactus family. It is found in the Kalahari deserts of South Africa. It is said to be an appetite suppressant. P57 is a compound present in it which suppresses a person’s appetite. It sends signals to the brain that the stomach is full and no more food is required. Thus, the person does not eat much, thereby reducing the calorie intake. It is available in different forms such as pills, supplements, and patches.
Hoodia Patch
Hoodia patch is altogether a new concept of losing weight by controlling the daily calorie intake. The patches are made up of extracts of this plant, and some other important ingredients. To use the patch, one has to stick the patch to a clean surface on the skin. The theory behind these patches is that the skin absorbs the content from the patch and then enters into the bloodstream. It is said to work after half an hour or so. The person feels full even after eating less amount of food, and hence consumes small amount of calories. Th shoulders and back are the two places where these patches are applied. It is known to work like any other hoodia product, i.e., by suppressing a person’s appetite.
Does the Patch Work?
This theory has not been proved scientifically yet. Thus, its use is not recommended. Though the concept behind the working of these patches sound simple and easy, still there is no proof that they reduce the hunger. Moreover, the appetite-suppressant pills have given effective results. But, it is not the same with hoodia patch. The patch may also cause irritation in some people. This is not a long-term solution to lose weight, and there is no clinical study to confirm the effectiveness of this extract.
The San Bushmen tribe, which is native to Africa, uses the crude extract of this plant. Out of the various products of this plant, diet pills and supplements are closest to the extracts that San Bushmen tribe’s people used. The patches manufactured by all the companies may not contain pure extract and thus, is not an effective method of using this plant for weight loss. Hence, it is recommended that if you want to buy the patches or any hoodia product, you should go for a product manufactured by a certified company.
It is recommended that before buying any patch, do proper research and find out if they are really useful. Instead of going for the patches, one may choose diet pills or syrups, since, their use have been proved to be effective clinically.
