What Is Hoodia
The Hoodia Plant
According to a taxonomic dictionary hoodia gordonii is ‘A species in the genus hoodia, and a member of the plant family Apocynaceae and the subfamily Asclepiadoideae.’ These stem succulents are capable of attaining a height of 1 m and contain exuberant flowers, often with muscular smell and flesh color. The plant tastes actually extremely acrid just like a very dry astringent cucumber. Hoodia is native to arid conditions and is succulent. It retains water in its thick stems. Hoodias are secluded plants, ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, typical of the Namib Desert, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include “Bushman’s Hat” and “Queen of the Namib”.
The native Kung Bushmen from Kalahari region use a term, Xhoba to describe the plant. Hoodia appears just as an elongated cactus, even though it is not truly a cactus. In Namibia, South Africa and to some extent in Botswana the plant grows naturally.
Use Of Hoodia By Bushmen
The local South African Bushmen have been using the plant for long for purposes such as treating small infections and indigestion. They boil the entire plant and use the extract to cure severe abdominal cramps, tuberculosis, hemorrohoids, hypertension, diabetes and indigestion. Nevertheless, it was only the San people from southern Africa who first discovered the hunger-suppressing qualities of the plant. These people have over the years used the plant as a thirst quencher and hunger suppressant. They have lived a life of wanderers and hunters for more than 100,000 years. They very often leave for long periods of hunting and eat this local plant to increase energy and decrease appetite. Chewing hoodia considerably enhances their energy and enables them to move for days without eating anything.
