Human Chorionic Gondroitin, originally used for infertility treatment, was first used for dietary purposes by endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons in the Fifties. According to Simeons, hCG had powerful appetite suppressant properties than enabled patients to maintain a diet of only 500 calories a day for as long as 40 days without experiencing hunger. The original hCG protocol developed by Dr. Simeons has been modified and arguably “improved” by subsequent authorities, but the Simeons protocol is still in use, and should remain the first point of study for newcomers to the diet.

The Injection Routine

The Simeons protocol calls for daily injections of hCG, 125 IU each, for 23 or 40 days–the length of the protocol depending on the amount of weight loss desired. On the 23-day regimen, the 500-calorie diet is maintained until the 26th day (i.e. without hCG for three days) to prevent weight regain. At the end of either regimen, the diet and injections must be stopped for at least six weeks before they can be resumed. Injections can be self-administered, or one can enroll in an hCG weight loss clinic to received injections and additional supervision.

HCG Drops

HCG can also be taken in oral drops, which of been advocated by hCG proponents other than Dr. Simeons. Many dieters and clinicians debate the merits of hCG drops vs injections, but the main advantage of injections is that they can place hCG directly into sites of accumulated fat, so that less of the hormone is necessary. HCG drops typically require 150 to 175 IU per day. Some oral drops use homeopathic hCG, which doesn’t require a prescription unlike pure hCG, but homeopathic preparations with extremely high dilutions that contain virtually none of the hormone. Many experts argue that “HHCG” is nothing more than a placebo. It’s advisable to look in hCG diet forums to see how dieters on different protocols and products have responded to them.