It is pronounced as Hoo-dee-ah - Hoodia gordonii, also known as hoodia, xhooba, khoba, ghaap, hoodia cactus, and South African desert cactus. Hoodia is known for its ability to suppress appetite and promote natural weight loss.

In the recent past, the benefits of Hoodia have been discussed on news, in magazine, shows such as CBS's 60 minutes, BBC, ABC's 20/20. All this press coverage has caused a great deal of interest in this plant and its properties.

In taxonomy, Hoodia genus has other species (plants) and they are available for medicinal purposes. However, we are concerned will be talking about Hoodia Gordonii here. It is available in quality health food stores and online. It is sold in capsule, liquid and tea form. All these forms have been equally effective. You can take your pick- which ever form is most convenient for you.

There are 20 types of Hoodia, however, only the Hoodia gordonii variety, is believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant, P57. It is native to the semi-desert areas of Namibia , Angola , Botswana and South Africa .

Hoodia is a succulent and not a true cactus, which grows in clumps of upright green stems. On an average, it takes about 5-6 years before the pale purple flowers appear, that signal the Hoodia is ready for harvesting.

Hoodia is a relatively recent discovery for the rest of the world. But, the San Bushmen of the Kalahari have been eating Hoodia for more than thousand years. These hunters and gatherers cut off a piece of the Hoodia stem and eat it to slake the hunger and thirst during the long hunting season. Hoodia is a medicine for indigestion, abdominal cramps, tuberculosis, diabetes and hypertension.

The San Bushmen were studied by a Dutch anthropologist, in 1937, who noted that they used Hoodia to suppress their appetite. In 1963, scientists of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research began research of Hoodia. The results showed weight loss in animals after eating Hoodia, it is believed to reduce caloric intake by 30 to 50 percent. The human study showed a reduced intake of about 1000 calories per day, most of this information is in anecdotes.