Hoodia gordonii (pronounced HOO-dee-ah) is also called hoodia, xhooba, !khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus, and South African desert cactus.

Hoodia is a cactus that’s causing a stir for its ability to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. 60 Minutes, ABC, and the BBC have all done stories on hoodia. Hoodia is sold in capsule, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet. Hoodia gordonii can be found in the semi-deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Hoodia grows in clumps of green upright stems and is actually a succulent, not a cactus. It takes about 5 years before hoodia’s pale purple flowers appear and the cactus can be harvested. Although there are 20 types of hoodia, only the hoodia gordonii variety is believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant.

Although hoodia was “discovered” relatively recently, the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert have been eating it for a very long time. The Bushmen, who live off the land, would cut off part of the hoodia stem and eat it to ward off hunger and thirst during nomadic hunting trips. They also used hoodia for severe abdominal cramps, haemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes.

In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen noted that they used hoodia to suppress appetite. But it wasn’t until 1963 when scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s national laboratory, began studying hoodia. Initial results were promising — lab animals lost weight after taking hoodia.

The South African scientists, working with a British company named Phytopharm, isolated the active ingredient in hoodia, a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. After getting a patent in 1995, they licensed p57 to Phytopharm. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on hoodia research.

Eventually pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (makers of Viagra) caught wind of hoodia and became interested in developing a hoodia drug. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop p57 to Pfizer for $21 million. Pfizer recently returned the rights to hoodia to Phytopharm, who is now working with Unilever.

Hoodia appears to suppress appetite
Much of the buzz about hoodia started after 60 minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl and crew traveled to Africa to try hoodia. They hired a local Bushman to go with them into the desert and track down some hoodia. Stahl ate it, describing it as “cucumbery in texture, but not bad.” She lost the desire to eat or drink the entire day. She also didn’t experience any immediate side effects, such as indigestion or heart palpitations. Stahl concluded, “I’d have to say it did work.”

In animal studies, hoodia is believed to reduce caloric intake by 30 to 50 percent. There is one human study showing a reduced intake of about 1000 calories per day. However, I haven’t been able to find either study to actually read for myself and am going on secondhand reports.

Studies performed till date show no bad effects among those supplementing their diet with Hoodia Gordonii. There are no documented harmful side effects by taking Hoodia Gordonii; still there are few rumors of a ‘mild aphrodisiac and mood elevation’ effect. An element known, as ‘P57’ is apparently what is responsible for a reduction in hunger when taking some ‘fat burners’ that contain Hoodia Gordonii.

Hoodia Gordonii, which for centuries has restricted ‘hunger & thirst’ during hunting-expeditions of tribes in the ‘Kalahari Desert’. Since long ‘Bushmen’ tribes have used Hoodia Gordonii while on long-hunting trips to increase strength and stave off hunger and thirst. Every time they traveled on long hunting expeditions, they consumed the Hoodia Cactus to stave off hunger.

Consumers are looking for a clean, potent Gordonii product and there are only a few companies that have it right now. It is strongly believed that Hoodia Gordonii is a impartial product and is the most effective ‘appetite suppressant’ currently on the global market.

Gordonii compound is a new innovative product to help those who may be following a weight management program. The Hoodia Gordonii has become recently in the spotlight of a public interest as a supplement for diet by suppressing ‘hunger & thirst’. Insisting on Hoodia supplement is the most effective way to control
appetite, and is used when wishing to lose weight.

Although there are about twenty types of Hoodia plants available; only the Hoodia Gordonii variety contains the ‘appetite suppressant’ that allows you to lose weight. Unlike many other ‘appetite suppressants’ and ‘diet pills’ on the market, Hoodia Gordonii has no known side effects. People considering for Hoodia
Gordonii supplement should consult with their physician before making any changes to their health care plans.