Hoodia is a genus of succulent plants in the family Apocynaceae. There are about 20 species in this family but "cactus" like Gordonii is the one that contains the natural appetite suppressant. It can also be used to maintain a high energy level. The plant was first discovered in the semi-deserts of Southern Africa namely Botswana, Namibia Angola and South Africa. It produces odiferous flowers that attract flies, which pollinate them.

Hoodia is widely used traditionally by the San people of southern Africa as an appetite suppressant and thirst quencher. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari cut off a stem of the Hoodia plant about the length of a medium size cucumber and nibble on it for a few hours. Some tribes in Namibia boil the Hoodia to treat various ailments with the brew. Namely as a cure for severe abdominal cramps, haemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes. To the Kung Bushmen Hoodia is also known as Xhoba.

Hoodia Gordonii - ideal diet dish.

The San people believe that in the very near future Hoodia cafes will open all over the world serving Hoodia diet salads and dishes . With the potential money spin-off they will hopefully rid themselves from hundreds of years of oppression, and finally claim their rightful place in the world.

Hoodia Gordonii physical characteristics.

H. Gordonii looks like an ordinary cactus with thin, thorny fingers and it grows about 20 inches tall in the reddish sands of southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert. In powder form the appearance is green to brown in color and has a bitter taste.

Hoodia Gordonii (in habitat) (Masson) Sweet ex Decne Asclepiadaceae

Location: Ceres Karoo Namibia and Northern Cape South Africa. Winter rainfall area

Description: 18 inches tall with regular brown spine stem angles. The stems are grayish-brown in color with the new growth being a light green. The flowers +/- 3 1/2 inches in diameter are pale purple with small dark papillae in the center.

1. Cultivation: Full sun or light shade, little water.
2. Common name: Queen of the Namib, African hats.
3. Propagation: Seeds and cuttings.
4. Grower: Grows naturally in the reddish soil in the Kalahari and surrounding area.

Please note, pure Hoodia Gordonii grow in the red rocky regions of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. So be aware of the substitutes grown on farms in other parts of the world especially those that make use of chemicals and fertilizers.

Image to the left taken during winter.

The San people of the Kalahari believes: "the land, animals and plants are gifts from the creator and mankind are the custodians, it is our duty to take care of these wonderful gifts and preserve it for future generations".

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