They literally cut a piece of it, peel it, and then eat it. They have been using this cactus-like plant to suppress appetite for many centuries to stave off hunger during hunting trips with no reported side effects.

The Dangers of Hoodia - Should You Be Concerned. When hoodia gordonii first appeared on the scene, many people were concerned that the potential side effects would rival those of Ephedra - a weight loss supplement associated with. The Bushmen's use of it, however, has been much different than the modern use of hoodia supplements. The Bushmen use the plant in its raw, natural form. That being said, there are no known hoodia side effects to date. When discussing the potential dangers of hoodia we can look at the San Bushmen of South Africa.

Anyone considering taking them should keep a careful eye out for any new studies and research for any potential side effects that might arise down the road. This is a lot different than taking it as a supplement, where the plant has been processed and is consumed in powder form.

These supplements haven't been around that long so the jury is still out on the side effects over the long term.