Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant that grows in the dry and arid regions of southwest Africa. Hoodia gordonii is sometimes misidentified as a cactus - it isn't a cactus, though, because Africa doesn't have any native cactuses.
Hoodia gordonii has been used for millennia by the San peoples of the Kalahari desert to reduce appetite during times of famine or during hunting. Hoodia gordonii has the same effects today - and pure hoodia gordonii extract or whole plant can be used to suppress hunger and aid in weight loss.
Physically, hoodia gordonii grows in clumps of erect cactus-like stems. It is a perennial and can grow up to 2 ½ feet tall (that's 75 cm for our European readers). If you saw hoodia gordonii in the wild, you might not be tempted to go too close - the tips of the stem blossom into a large, brownish flower that smells distinctly of carrion. This scent attracts flies, which pollinate the hoodia gordonii and allow it to propagate.
Fortunately, hoodia weight loss pills have none of these less attractive features.
The African name for this plant is Xhoba, but botanists and scientists call it by its Latin name, hoodia gordonii. It is a member of the milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae.
The genus hoodia contains about 20 succulent plants including hoodia gordonii. In addition to hoodia gordonii, there are Hoodia alstonii, Hoodia currorii, Hoodia currorii, Hoodia lugardii, Hoodia dregei, Hoodia flava, Hoodia juttae, Hoodia officinalis, Hoodia parviflora, Hoodia pedicellata, Hoodia pilifera, Hoodia pilifera, Hoodia ruschii and Hoodia triebneri. Some or all of these "false hoodias" are currently on the market but none of them are the same as hoodia gordonii – so double check that label before you buy any supplements.
These hoodias are visually similar to hoodia gordonii, which can cause some confusion in the wild. The San tribe of bushmen can tell the difference, though – and they have been using hoodia gordonii since the Stone Age to suppress hunger and appetite.
Learn more about how the hoodia plant works, the history of hoodia gordonii cactus, and how to lose weight with hoodia.
