More on Hoodia

Because I agree with Mr. Perry--anything that messes with brain chemistry should be considered a drug.  If it has positive effects, it also has counterindications.  I'm trying to take this very seriously, and exposing all rational thoughts to the Group Mind for analysis.  Here's a note Steve sent me:
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Yo, Barnes --



A quick web search for interactions/contraindications on hoodia:

Phytopharm owns the patent to P57, and no other company or individual can sell hoodia as a weight loss aid.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer entered a deal with Phytopharm and tried to isolate P57 into a form that could be marketed to the public. After several years of research, they determined that this was not possible, and they pulled out of the agreement.
Hoodia is currently being sold online by various companies and individuals. They are selling dried, powdered hoodia. However, the appetite suppressing ability of hoodia gordonii is only found in large fresh pieces of the plant. The powder that you purchase contains such a small amount of P57 that it cannot produce the desired effect. These products are not regulated or inspected, and the exact contents are not known

Phytopharm is still working on developing a viable source of hoodia gordonii that can be marketed to the public. They expect this to take several years. When this is available, it will only be sold by companies that are certified by Phytopharm as being authentic and having the correct amount of P57 to benefit the user.
The current supply of genuine hoodia gordonii is very limited, and is considered rare. The South African government has chosen to protect hoodia gordonii as an endangered plant. In October, 2004, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) provided added protection. Hoodia gordonii cannot be exported as a weight loss product. Limited amounts of the plant can be exported, but only as herbarium collections. The extent of illegal trade is unknown.



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Bold type is mine. 




If Phytopharm is selling this stuff in pill form after saying it only works if it is in fresh pieces? Your basic contradiction there, seems like to me ...




Doesn't seem to be much in the way of interactions/contraindications, save don't take it if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure, or are taking other meds. I'm guessing that if there's no active ingredient in it, that would probably account for these lacks. Doesn't sound dangerous per se, but caveat ingestor ...




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Steve