Beware of fake Hoodia gordonii Cactus

A Hoodia-look-alike cactus, is being aggressively harvested in South Africa. What makes this particularly dangerous is that Trichocereus spachianus is potentially psychoactive. The risk is minimal, though, as signifacant amounts of Trichocereus spachianus would have to be consumed for the possible psychoactive results.

But make no mistake about one thing: this Hoodia lookalike cactus is being harvested from the wild in South Africa and sold to American nutritional supplement companies as Hoodia Gordonii, the weight loss appetite suppressant supplement. That's why you have to be so careful when purchasing Hoodia: you might be buying powdered Trichocereus spachianus.