Updated 10/11/24. Let’s talk about homeopathic HCG also referred to as HCG drops. These are homeopathic supplements that are used for weight loss. HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotrophin, a hormone made when when a woman is pregnant. The original HCG diet has been around for several decades. The HCG program that uses HCG drops is a relative newcomer to the weight loss arena but is extremely popular in some circles. Basically, these products are said to contain diluted amounts of the hormone that are taken under the tongue with an eye dropper. Do HCG diet supplements work? Do they have any side effects? Let's look at the science and try to make sense of all this. Also, see the review on HCG injections for more information.
1 How The HCG Diet Works
The HCG diet works almost the same as the original version used by Dr. Albert Simeons. It consists of the following:
- Taking HCG and
- Eating only 500 calories per day
The only difference is that Doctor Simeons recommended injections of the HCG hormone. Homeopathic HCG supplements you find in the store are not meant to be injected. Rather, you place them under your tongue to absorb them.
According to those who sell HCG supplements, the hormone reduces appetite and helps you lose weight while helping you maintain your muscle mass. However, I could not locate any proof that people taking sublingual HCG maintain muscle while they lose weight.
Let me be clear: the HCG diet WILL cause weight loss. But, the weight people lose on this diet is NOT because of the hormone. Rather, people lose weight with the HCG diet because they eat 500 calories per day. Watch this video to see the research.
HCG Diet Review
Many websites that sell homeopathic HCG drops speak about the work of Dr. Simeons, but they usually don’t tell you that Dr Simeons used
HCG injections. Doctor Simeons did not use HCG drops.
Because homeopathic HCG may contain small amounts of alcohol, recovering alcoholics should not use these products if they believe it may interfere with their recovery.
Remember. The people who sell homeopathic HCG drops love to tell you about Dr. Simeon's weight loss protocol and his HCG research. BUT Dr. Simeons did not use homeopathic HCG drops.
Let's discuss three reasons why Dr. Simeons did not use homeopathic HCG, and by doing so, you will know why this HCG program cannot possibly work.
2 What Are Homeopathic HCG Drops?
Homeopathy means taking a substance (in this case, HCG) and diluting it over and over with water. This dilution continues until the final dilution contains none (zero) of the original substance.
This means that homeopathic HCG has no HCG. Rather, HCG drops are just water (sometimes other things like vitamin B12 are added but this other stuff usually has no weight loss effect). Here is my review of vitamin B12 and weight loss if you want more info.
Some people say that homeopathic HCG stings when its placed under the tongue. This may be because of the alcohol or other ingredients in homeopathic HCG.
The final homeopathic dilution is said to contain the “memory” of the original substance. The “memory” of the substance is what is supposed to be the active ingredient in homeopathic preparations.
How can an inert substance like water contain a memory? This makes no sense from a scientific point of view. Fact. Nobody who sells HCG drops can show you clinical proof that their product has a memory of HCG. Ask them, and you will see that I am right.
3 What Is HCG Made Of?
HCG is a hormone made of protein. When we eat protein-rich food, like chicken, the protein is broken down into the amino acids that make up the protein.
This is why chicken isn’t absorbed in the body as chicken. The same is true for HCG drops. When you take HCG by mouth, the protein that makes up the HCG is digested and absorbed as individual amino acids.
The amino acids that HCG is made of are used to do whatever the body needs to do. After they are absorbed, the body does not reassemble those amino acids back into the HCG hormone.
4 Homeopathic HCG Drops Proof
To determine if homeopathic supplements containing the HCG hormone worked, I searched the National Library of Medicine (pubmed.gov), a list of millions of studies from around the world. I searched this database using these terms:
- HCG drops
- HCG drops and weight loss
- Oral HCG
- HCG supplements
- homeopathic HCG
- Homeopathic human chorionic gonadotrophin
- Human chorionic gonadotrophin drops
- Human chorionic gonadotrophin supplements
None of these terms or phrases revealed any clinical studies. The only studies I did see were for the original HCG diet.
Websites that market sublingual HCG drops often talk about how they are “FDA Approved,” but this doesn't mean the FDA says homeopathic HCG drops cause weight loss. Update. The FDA now says HCG Drops are illegal.
The FDA-approved statement only means that the company has met the homeopathic medication requirements that the FDA stipulates. These requirements include listing the dilution, and instructions for the safety and purity of the product. Here is more on FDA conditions for homeopathic medications.
On March 9, 2011, the TV show Nightline did a story on homeopathic HCG and weight loss. They made a good point when they revealed that the FDA requires HCG labels to state that several clinical trials since the 1970s have shown HCG does not help weight loss.
As I revealed in my review of HCG injections, the research goes back to the 1950s, and ALL of that research is on injections of HCG. 99% of those clincal trials also revealed that it didn't work.
5 Can HCG Raise Testosterone Levels?
One of the claims for HCG weight loss protocols is that it stimulates the production of testosterone, an anabolic hormone that helps build muscle. There is some evidence that HCG can raise testosterone levels. But the evidence is for injected HCG. What about taking the HCG hormone by mouth? There appears to be no good proof taking HCG supplements can raise testosterone levels in people. Weight loss is known to raise testosterone. Is it possible that elevations in testosterone via the HCG diet are due to simply eating fewer calories?
6 Can You Purchase HCG Drops In Stores?
Local shops like Walmart and others may sell homeopathic human chorionic gonadotropin. If you go shopping for them, look at the labels carefully. Some supplements may contain additional ingredients such as caffeine, arginine, green tea, chromium and African Mango.
If you see this, the question to ask yourself is: if HCG drops really worked so well, then why do the supplements need those additional ingredients?
7 FDA And HCG Supplements
In 2013, the FDA stated that homeopathic HCG products are illegal. Both the FDA and FTC also sent letters to companies that make these products, telling them that they are illegal too. letters and warnings aside, I have still seen HCG weight loss remedies sold at health food stores. But what you see in stores may not be the HCG hormone. What is it, then? See the next section.
8 HCG Weight Loss Supplement Remedies
Since the FDA and FTC have clammed down companies that sold homeopathic HCG products, a new line of supplements has cropped up that contain “HCG” on the label. Do they contain the HCG hormone?
No.
Most of these supplements contain ingredients that raise the body's natural production of HCG. Supplements like these may be identified by words such as an HCG activator or an HCG catalyst. Others may contain “drops” in the name of the product.
These supplements do not contain HCG hormones but rather ingredients that are supposed to boost HCG production. Supplements said to boost HCG production may contain ingredients like:
- L ornithine
- Beta-alanine
- L carnitine
- Maca
- glutamine
- Rhodiola
Whether or not these ingredients effectively raise HGC hormone levels in people needs more study.
9 HCG Drops: Pros / Cons
Here's a quick rundown of the benefits and not-so-benefits of using HCG weight loss supplements
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Lack of clinical proof they work |
| Some people online say they work | must eat a VERY low calorie diet (example 500 cal/day) |
| Do they really contain HCG hormone? | |
| Do they really raise HCG levels in people? | |
| Some products may be expensive |
10 HCG Weight Loss Side Effects
I know the HCG drops and Doctor Simeons diet protocol is lauded and criticized. Here are some things to consider if you embark on this weight loss protocol. This list is not complete:
Eating only 500 calories per day may lead to the following:
- Muscle loss
- Hair loss
- Reduce wound healing
- Dizziness
- Lack of energy
As we learned from the study of former contestants of the Biggest Loser TV show, rapid weight loss may lead to lower metabolic rates. That's not to say the HCG weight loss program would do this too. It's something to consider for those who tend to gain and lose weight regularly.
Don't use the HCG weight loss program while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Stop using HCG drops/HCG injections at least two weeks before having surgery.
One report has possibly linked HCG drops to deep vein thrombosis (blood clots). This stems from a 64-year-old woman who was taking 20 HCG drops per day under the tongue for weight loss. Two weeks after she started HCG, her symptoms started. Given the complexity of the human body, it's hard to know if HCG was linked to her blood clots.
Obviously, without clinical studies on HCG supplements, it's challenging to know what the side effects – if any- might be. Use this as a guide to discuss with your doctor whether an HCG weight loss program is right for you.
11 Does The HCG Diet Work?
Logic tells us that people lose weight with HCG drops because they are only eating 500 calories per day. That said, does this mean HCG drops don't help at all? As seen in the comments below, some people swear this stuff works. While I take them at their word, I still feel we need clinical studies to know.
Even if you don't believe it's all about the calories, before you spend your $40 – $60 a month on HCG supplements, ask the person selling the product if they have any clinical proof that homeopathic HCG drops – plus eating 500 calories per day – causes more weight loss than ONLY eating 500 calories per day. Don't accept Dr. Albert Simeons' research because he didn't use HCG drops. He used injections of HCG.
It would be crazy to spend money on this. One could go on the Master Cleanse or some other type of micro calorie diet and lose the same weight. 500 calories a day will induce weight loss in and of itself. Geez, I only wish I could come up with some hooey I could sell people…
Your body cannot survive on 500 calories a day. You are starving and yes when you get off the drops that do not work , it is starving your body that works, you will gain back the weight. I have a friend on this protocol and she has lost 50 lbs but a lot of the HCG is mental, you think you will lose the weight because you are constantly told that on all the websites. You have to have calcium that also helps you lose weight. lots of veggies not just one or two will do the same thing. To me the hcg is mind over matter. Lots of the drops are nothing more than water and that is it.
Ok so I had bought the drops with carmen electra on them and so far I only used them twice however once I read this article I emailed them because its not exactly cheap and I felt like I paid thirty dollars for a jar of water. They told me that basically you (Joe) are correct but they added natural ingredients that mimic the hormone hcg and that the hcg hormone is not allowed to be produced and sold any longer.
I haven’t really noticed a difference in my appetite honestly I still wanted to eat just as much if not more because of the complex I got when I felt like I couldn’t eat anything. I think exercise is the only way to really loose weight.
Tiffany, its nice that they were honest enough to tell you that. The US Gov did crack down on homeopathic hcg recently but even before that happened, I doubt if it ever had any of the hcg hormone and I still doubt that their natural ingredients mimic HCG in the body. Still, the good news is you know all this now and you can save the money or spend it on better stuff 🙂
personal trainer in boise:
Anything the FDA approves or disapproves does not close the case. They have endorsed many drugs with the “FDA approved” stamp that have caused thousands of deaths.
I wonder what would happen if the FDA had better funding and did not have its budget cut.
As of Dec 6th this year Fda deemed HCG supps illegal and fraudulent, case closed 🙂
In case anybody missed this, the FDA is going after some makers of HCG diet supplements
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm281333.htm
To Trainer and anyone else who just has no clue.
I’m a RN, working at 3 different MD offices for 3 years using HCG both homeopathic drops and injections on our patients and myself. Anyone who says it is placebo or does not work has never done it themselves and is depriving anyone who really needs to lose weight a fabulous option…and “Trainer”, one does not stay on 500 calories after the diet, they are taught to eat a low carb high protein diet of 2000 calories to maintain the weight! So next time people, know what you talk about before making false allegations…..
Mike K, since you are an RN maybe you can clear something up for me. I’m sure the doctors you work with have already looked at the same research I did when I wrote my HCG reviews and they are aware that all the research on the HCG diet protocol has used injections of HCG. Since that seems to be the case, Ive always wanted to know what would prompt a physician / scientist to use HCG drops, for which there seems to be no published peer reviewed proof? I’m not trying to deprecate them using it; rather I am trying to understand the scientific principles (evidence, logic , biochemical mechanism ect ) they base their use on HCG drops on? I’ve seen doctors who use HCG drops interviewed on TV but the interviewers never ask this question.
So basically I am asking, are physicians just basing their use of HCG drops on what they hear via testimonials as their “proof” that it works or are they privy to some type of evidence that I am not aware of? If you can help clear this up for me I would be very grateful.
Joe,
There are still a ton of things that we can’t scientifically prove, yet we still accept them as viable simply because of the results or reactions we see in the people affected. We still don’t know how a bumble bee flies, but for you to say they don’t just because we don’t have scientific evidence to prove that they do would be absurd. Empirical evidence is still evidence.
Just because it’s not enough for you doesn’t make the effects any less real. If you are truly that much of a scientific mind you should know that, and to dismiss that in your case makes you bias, and therefore, an unreliable source.
Tina, I’ve said several times that lack of evidence does not mean something does not work. I can’t speak about bumblebees but I disagree that because I like evidence that I’m biased. That makes me a critical thinker not somebody who has an agenda.
The previous research on the HCG diet (the real HCG diet, not HCG drops) showed its just a low calorie diet. That said I’d love -and welcome with open arms – some newer studies since its been over 20 years since anybody has looked at it.
Tina, while I’m happy – really happy – for those who say HCG worked for them, I’m frustrated and disappointed in the companies that make homeopatic HCG supplements that never publish research proving it works. I’m disappointing that universities don’t study HCG drops either. But more than that I’m REALLY disappointing in the doctors who sell HCG supplements without ever trying to test it in some of their patients and publish the results. Yes doctors, I’m calling all of you out on this. You know how to do science and you have the people who you sell HCG to, but yet ALL of you refuse to take any of your precious time to do the hard work/research to prove to the world HCG really works.
Im very open to the possibility that there is something to HCG drops. Ive said this many times. I just want to see some evidence for it. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Do you?
Tina, you can think I’m biased (I’m not) but I feel you deserve better research on something before you try it.
Tina, sorry I had to vent. I just wish I had a laboratory. If I had a lab and 10 people I could shed light on HCG drops in 1 month.
Does anyone know about the Drops being homeopathic? I have read the fine print on one HCG Fat Blast for $30 (77% off offered from KGB deals) and apparently they are homeopathic HCG. I just bought a homeopathic HCG and have been on it for 5 days. Cheated today all day by eating bad, but the last 4 days I haven’t been hungry in the am, and feel satisfied in the evenings.
Alysia and Ashley: I totally agree with your posts. The best reviews are from people who have actually tried this themselves with results.
Related to the post by Joyce, I would like to see some evidence that homeopathic HCG drops actually contain HCG.
Me and my husband have both done the hcg drops diet. i have lsot 45 lbs he lost 68lbs. to say this is the easy way out is crazy! it really teaches u how to eat healthy and clean. it truly got rid of the stored fat in areas i could never get rid of. i know the hcg worked because i was never hungry. the hcg burns ur stored fat for energy. thats how u lose it. we did the new 800 cal diet recommended by RN Sonia Russell. we have had 6 weeks between rounds and have not regained any weight back. this diet has changed our lives and our way of eating. its a life changing experience…
Thanks for the post. I have been trying to buy hcg drops but not sure where should I buy them In toronto. Just wonderinf if u could help
Kanwal, with respect to others who say it has helped them, I don’t have any proof (and neither to the makers of these products) that one brand is better than another.
I’ve been doing research on HCG drops for a few months now and have seen my mother and a family friend (who is a nurse and nursing teacher) use them with great results. You also shouldn’t be gaining the weight back if you follow the drops cycle with the 3 weeks of maintaining.
It isn’t really as extreme as living on 500 calories a day because your body is forcing you to use the calories you’ve already stored up to make up for it. Yes the calorie restrictions are what’s causing the loss in weight but the HCG helps because normally if you tried to do a 500 calorie diet your body would switch to starvation mode before it would start using that stored energy and you wouldn’t be able to function then you would gain the weight back as soon as you upped your calorie intake.
Also an FYI to all of you Trainers that keep posting on all of these sites some people gain/can’t loose weight because of many reasons beyond their control including; genetics, medications (like birth control), pregnancy, depression, thyroid conditions and other hormone imbalances. The HCG diet also gives them the confidence to permanently change their diet and even add exercise when they start seeing results. My mother said that even after she finished the maintaining cycle she doesn’t crave the junk she used to, and that it actually almost makes her sick sometimes thinking about eating it.
Almost all of the reviews that I’ve seen that are bad or negative are from people that are skeptical haven’t tried or known anyone that has tried HCG.
I’ve also been wondering about some of the reviews where people are getting dizzy or light headed if they already had a condition such as hypoglycemia or if the HCG just wasn’t for them, just like any other diet isn’t for everyone.
I understand the importance of the clinical trials, but I agree with Ruth on this. For me (PERSONALLY) all I need is personal experience. I lost a total of 37lbs following this diet for the 23 days, and not only did I lose weight but I lost inches also. Went from a size 13 to a size 7. I even cheated some days 🙂
Trainer: I understand your points, but I wasn’t fat just because I was lazy. My schedule never (I do mean NEVER) allowed me to follow an eating schedule. I eat on the go, during carpool, way to work, in the office at very odd times. I went to the gym changed my diet, avoided certain foods, even got a personal trainer for a month. I lost 12lbs in a month and a half and my pants just felt looser not bigger.
This diet lasts 23days. The first 2 days consist of taking the drops 3xs a day and eat AAAALLLL you want, the other 21 days you are strictly recommended to stay between 500-700 calories (But there is a little “wiggle” room). After which it is recommended you wait 6 weeks before you begin another cycle of 23 days. During the 6 weeks one should gradually increase calories and add exercise to daily activities. Doing otherwise will cause rapid weight gain.
After my 23 days of HCG diet, I spent another two weeks changing my eating habits and doing more exercise (on my own, no other professional or HCG recommendations). I lost another 13Lbs during these 2 weeks.
During my 23 days on the HCG diet, I was hungry, “deprived” of my favorite foods, but anxious to see the results. I made a choice to never go back to size 13 (making it a TOTAL of 50). It has been 6 months since this whole “ordeal” and I have managed to keep the weight off, this time I believe its for GOOOD!!!
188lbs—-&138LBS in 37 days
I would recommend it, but only if you are prepared for the challenge of this diet and the challenge of changing your lifestyle afterwards.
Take Care
The point of homeopathics is you typically “potentize” a substance that at full strength has the opposite effect of what you want. For example, if you are allergic to grass, you make a homeopathic remedy of the grass you are allergic to, and it supposedly alleviates the symptoms.
There is typically not a single molecule left of the substance you used to create a high potency remedy. Note that the more you dilute the remedy, the higher the potency.
If this held true, then the effect of homeopathic HCG would be to cause you to gain weight (assuming a real amount of HCG caused you to lose it). I really laughed when about a decade ago they introduced homeopathic growth hormone to fight aging, when it really should accelerate aging according to homeopathic principles.
So, I would guess that the fact that this is a low carb diet and limited to 500 or 1500 calories is the main factor contributing to weight loss. I certainly would not buy the homeopathic HCG, especially considering its theoretical effect would be to cause you to gain weight.
Jeani, it sounds like you had hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This happens when you dont eat enough food. If I remember when Dr Oz discussed the HCG diet on 6/29/11, a woman in the audience also said her vision became blurry when she was on the HCG diet.
I am on the hcg drops (homeopathic) and have been for 17 days. Not only did I get dizzy, foggy headed, fatigued, blurred vision and headaches, but I only lost 4lbs. I stuck to protocol strictly, not more than 500 calories a day. Drank all the water suggested and weighed all my food. What is up with that? Really anyone got an answer?
The HCG diet is just another scam. A quick fix to those who take desperate measures, putting their health at risk to lose weight. It saddens me how lazy society is these days. In no way does this diet teach you how to eat healthy, and make it part of your life so you can keep the weight off.
It doesn’t teach you how to make life changes so you are healthier and you’re able to lose weight and keep it off. The inventor suggest no more than walking as your daily exercise, that’s because doing anything more that is healthier for you such as resistance training will land you in the hospital based on a 500 calorie diet. How would this be healthy?
People want short cuts..sorry their are no short cuts. Losing weight and keeping it off, involves life changes. That means getting into a normal weight and cardio training program, along with proper, nutritious food choices….The big questions i ask those who are hooked on the HCG diet (HUGE on the Oprah forum..go figure) is, “What happens after this crash diet” “How will you keep the weight off” “Can you sustain 500 calories a day, without visiting the hospital due to malnutrition, and other health issues due to this diet”………..
You should see the look on their faces. People don’t understand, and don’t want to hear the long term side effects, because they want instant gratification.
Hi Sher, Im curious how did you obtain HCG injections? Did a doctor give them to you?
I have tried the diet with the injections and lost about 40 pounds in three separate rounds. First starting at 169… My lowest was 121 in December … It is April and I now weigh 137. It is a hard diet to stay on for so many reasons, hunger being the first. I kept some of the weight off but gained some back after each round. I think it’s pretty much close to impossible to keep the weight off in my experience unless you have a backup exercise and healthy lifestyle plan after you complete the diet. Anyhow, that is just what I experienced.
Ruth,
I’m happy to hear that you lost the 40lbs, but how long do you think you can only consume 500-700 calories? eventually you will go back to eating a normal diet, and then what?
all I need to do is show them a picture of what I looked like in January 2011 and what I look like today march 19th after losing 40lbs on homeopathic drops and 500-700 calories and have them try doing the same thing without the drops. I can bet you my bottom dollar that they would not be able to do it. I am aware of the clinical trials and nay sayers but the only prove I really need is what my personal experience is.
I agree Ruth. Fear mongers and even the FDA will exaggerate the negative because THEIR commodity is fear…and since the ‘news business’ and many article writers are also dependent on creating fear…we get the hateful society we have today.
I lost 40 pounds over three years ago and have kept it off. Over a dozen of my friends have done the same. had any bad side effects. It is common sense that you must eat correctly afterward to keep it off.None
The bottom line is ‘it works’ with few side effects(none that I have heard).
So just remember that HYPE comes in shades of black as well!
Tony, happy HCG has helped you. Ive had some issues with the FDA as well but I would not call them fear mongers or that their commodity is fear. I do agree that hype does come in many shades, which is why I feel science should be tempered with rational thought.
Hence Ruth, why you will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be a scientist. What a bunch of nonsense Ruth! Do you even understand what you are saying? ”I can bet you my bottom dollar that they would not be able to do it” I bet you bottom dollar that in fact ANYONE could do this because it’s been done before…… by you!
Because every single reputable scientist would tell you that adding a drop of water to your tongue every day would have absolutely no effect on your ability to lose weight or gain it! Arghhhh people like you make this world such a difficult place to live in. Scientists don’t just hope for something to be true, therefore it is. It has to be proven over and over again, however your evidence is absolute nonsense!