Common names of the Hoodia plants are ‘Bushman’s Hat’, ‘Queen of Namib’ and the bushman’s name is ‘Xshoba’.
So, what exactly is Hoodia Gordonii?
History:
It was discovered by Paterson and Col. R. F. Gordon in December 1778. Mr. Francis Masson, a Botanist named it as Stapelia Gordonii in Gordon’s honor. In 1830, genus was transferred by sweet into the genus Hoodia named after Van Hood a succulent grower. That’s how the name Hoodia Gordonii was arrived at.
Today, Hoodia is the latest natural product making its entry into the weight loss market. Hoodia products are in sky rocketing demands these days. The Hoodia diet pills are the best way to be slim.
How does it look?
Hoodia is a cactus like, spiny, perennial, leafless succulent which grows in various areas of southern Africa, especially in the Kalahari Desert. The plant looks like a dill pickle with spines on it. This plant consists of a molecule ‘p57’, which is responsible for suppressing appetite.
Hoodia belongs to Magnoliopsida class, Gentianales order and Apocynaceae family of plants. These plants were used by Bushmen ‘San’ tribe as appetite suppressant, thirst quencher and cure for abdominal cramps, Tuberculosis, hemorrhoids, hypertension, diabetes and indigestion.
Although the plant looks like a cactus, Hoodia Gordonii is categorized as a succulent. It grows in the wild and harsh conditions of the Kalahari Desert, and takes five years to harvest. It can grow up to 1m height. The plant has large and beautiful flowers, but these flowers smell awfully bad (Carrion-like smell) as they are pollinated by flies. These flowers are borne at the top part of the plant, and resemble Petunia Flower. Some Flowers have a diameter of about 75 mm, and vary in color from pale straw to dark maroon.
What does it do?
Hoodia increases blood sugar levels, and sugar levels remain high even when there is no food in the stomach. This situation makes the brain to believe that the stomach is full.
A spokesperson for the ‘San’ tribe told that “The tribe was taught how to eat the plant by their forefathers. It was their food, water and also medicine, they use this plant during hunting to fight off the pain of hunger and thirst”.
Hoodia Gordonii is 100% natural, has no stimulant properties. The molecule p57 is 10,000 times as active as the glucose. When this molecule enters the Hypothalamus of your brain, it makes those nerve cells to fire as if you are full even if you have just eaten a morsel. Now you don’t want to eat anything. By taking Hoodia, Calories intake can be decreased by 1000 calories per day. This means, in three days you can lose one pound of fat.
Hoodia Gordonii is one of the most sought after succulents. It has been called one of the wonder plants of the 21st century. Hoodias are also used for cultural purposes in some areas. Hoodias are also used for horticultural purposes in spite of being difficult to cultivate. Hoodia species occur during summer rainfall in area like Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Botswana.
