History of the Hoodia Gordonii Cactus

Wednesday, 18 July 2007

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.

However, as word spread about the effects of the hoodia gordonii cactus, more scientists became intrigued by the plant and its possible use as a weight loss herbal supplement. In the late sixties many scientists worked together to perform laboratory experiments on animals using the hoodia gordonii cactus. These experiments showed that the hoodia gordonii cactus actually did suppress appetite and thirst.

However, there have been few additional studies completed. Only one human clinical study was done on the hoodia gordonii cactus, and this was completed by a manufacturer of hoodia gordonii diet pills. There is no evidence to show how the hoodia gordonii cactus works to suppress appetite. Nor is there any hard proof of side effects or other possible disadvantages or benefits.

For these reasons, the hoodia gordonii cactus has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a weight loss supplement. When more studies have been completed and more is known about the plant and how it works, it may be determined that we have found the best weight loss promoter in the world.

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.

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