Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus like plant that grows in the South African deserts. Hoodia Gordonii is not actually a cactus, but looks very much like a cactus. The Hoodia Gordonii cactus has been found to act as an appetite suppressant, and therefore has recently been promoted as an herbal supplement used to promote weight loss.
But when did it all begin? Why are we just hearing about the Hoodia Gordonii cactus now? The answer to these questions lies in the fact that there is still little known about this rare and hard to produce plant.
In the late 1930’s an anthropologist discovered that the Kalahari used the Hoodia Gordonii cactus to suppress hunger and thirst when on long journeys through the dessert. This use of the Hoodia Gordonii cactus was actually a survival mechanism. The Hoodia Gordonii cactus allowed travelers to pass through the desert unscathed, which was likely the use intended by nature.
The properties of this plant became known in the other parts of the world and it caught the fancy of the scientists to use it as a supplement to help people lose weight. Experiments in the lab were conducted by a group of scientists in the sixties especially on animals to understand the properties of the Hoodia Gordonii plant better. They were able to come to a conclusion that it was true that some parts of the plant had the capability of suppressing thirst and hunger.
Not much has been done on this subject after that. Some scientific study was done on humans by a maker of Hoodia Gordonii diet pills later but not much has been reported on this. It is difficult to say how the Hoodia Gordonii cactus helps in curbing a person’s hunger. There are no studies also which suggest that there is any negative impact of the plant on humans.
This can be one of the reasons why the use Hoodia Gordonii cactus for losing weight has not been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration. It is possible that the Hoodia Gordonii plant may become one of the best weight loss supplements once more research has been done on the plant.
The biggest down side to all of this is that the Hoodia Gordonii cactus is very rare. It can only be found in extremely hot yet slightly humid temperatures, like those found in South African deserts. Therefore, the weight loss supplement may not be readily available and will likely become very expensive as marketing efforts continue.