Hoodia is a popular weight loss supplement that everyone is talking about. It was introduced to the US market in November 2004 and has taken over the American market ever since. Today, weight gain and obesity has turned into more serious problem. Obesity has become rampant in industrial nations. It is experienced by individuals of all ages. So many diet trends and fads have come and gone the most of the public has given up hope in finding a permanent solution for controlling their weight. Hoodia offers a new way of loosing weight.

Regrettably, due to the popularity of the Hoodia, several cheap imitations are being sold, usually on the internet. There are many brands that guarantee their pills effectiveness; but they don’t contain 100% of the Hoodia gordonii plant. Hoodia as an appetite suppressant should be made solely from the hoodia gordonii plant. Several manufacturers have sold Hoodia in different forms.  The latest is the patch, but is using trans-dermal patch as effective as taking the pill itself?

 What is hoodia anyway?

The first and original product is the Hoodia diet pill. Its source comes from the hoodia gordonii plant from South Africa’s Kalahari dessert. Hoodia is a protected species and the gordonii variety of the plant is used during long hunting trips to fend off hunger and thirst by people native to the region. Today, it's used as a natural appetite suppressant to promote weight loss.

It suppresses a persons’ appetite by tricking the brain that he or she has already consumed enough food. It releases a chemical much stronger than glucose on the satiety center of the brain. This center is located in the hypothalamus. This causes the hypothalamus to send a signal to the brain that it has already eaten enough food.

Diets supplemented by Hoodia help people control their appetite and cravings. By doing so it helps people stick to their diet program. Since an individual’s appetitie and cravings are being suppressed, they should take eat less. Because you’re taking in less food there are fewer fats and calories to burn.

What are the patches for?

Additional forms of hoodia diet have surfaced in the market and diet pill manufacturers are taking advantage of its popularity. Apart from pills Hoodia is now also available in patches. This may seem like a handy way of getting the hoodia into your system. You don't need to take a pill just stick a patch and you're done.

However, these patches are not clinically demonstrated to be effective. Since birth control patches have become popular manufacturers have decided to use this form for variety. It's a innovative twist to an already trendy product, and a way to lure in customers.

The patches work by releasing their active ingredients through the epidermis and into the blood stream. It's expedient for those people who forget to take their pills. The pills are should be taken before meals, however, most people no longer eat at scheduled times. In addition, people with an active lifestyle are not sure what time their next meal is going to be. The logic behind the Hoodia Patch, is that you can put it in the morning and forget about it.

Users report that the patches are coming off whenever they sweat. It's not advisable for those who have regular exercise and workout routines to wear the patch unless it has been secured with additional adhesive material.

The Hoodia Patch may also cause itching and skin irritations. Patches are also easy to forget. Some people may forget to replace them daily or have them come off unexpectedly.

The effectiveness of the Hoodia patch has not yet been determined. If you are a serious dieter, do your own research and then determine which form of Hoodia is right for you.