I used to work at GNC - a pill popper's heaven. I hated having to sell what basically amounted as caffiene, more caffiene and herbs to people who wanted to lose a few pounds.

Same thing should be applied to those marketing hoodia today. Hoodia root may actually be effective but the deception comes in when you read what part of the plant is used for OTC supplements being sold today. All hoodia supplements today use the stems and leaves of the plant, which do not contain significant quantities of the chemical that is supposed to suppress appetite. The sole owner of the rights to distribute hoodia root have even stated that production quantities will not be available until at least 2008. By that time, hoodia will probably have a reputation akin to snake oil.