The Hoodia Cactus extract has been used by the indigenous bush people of South Africa for generations as a natural appetite suppresant and thirst quencher during long hunting trips. The powerful extract from this african cactus have been tested and shown in clinical trials on obese subjects to reduce caloric intake by up to 1000 calories per day.

People all over the world have been hearing about Hoodia (pronounced HOO-dee-uh), but most of them have no idea what it is, where it came from, or how it works. A 60 Minutes special about the Hoodia Gordonii plant increased the interest in this fascinating discovery.

The truth is that Hoodia has been used by indigenous peoples for many years to treat a number of ailments. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa have eaten Hoodia for thousands of years to prevent hunger during long hunting excursions. This allowed them to travel for long periods without eating so that they could gather food that would feed their entire community.

The San also discovered that Hoodia Gordonii gave them more energy, as well as reduced stress and upset stomachs. They even used it to treat diabetes and hypertension. Some say that it relieves the symptoms of a hangover.

What is the Hoodia Gordonii Plant?

Like Aloe Vera, the Hoodia Gordonii plant (also called Xhoba) is a bitter-tasting succulent, and it grows in the deserts of southern Africa (Namibia, Angola, and Botswana.) The plant is similar to a cactus, but it flowers and takes as much as five years to mature. By the time it reaches about six feet in height, it can be harvested.

Of course, other succulents like Aloe Vera do not have appetite-suppressing properties. Hoodia Gordonii is the only plant (so far) that has been found to suppress the appetite naturally and safely. The plant also has a natural aphrodisiac quality, in that it simply helps you to feel good in a very natural way.

How Does Hoodia Work?

According to Dr. Richard Dixey, the chief of Phytopharm, Hoodia Gordonii targets the hypothalamus gland in the brain, which lets your brain know when your body is full. When you eat, your body's glucose levels rise, and the nerve cells in the hypothalamus respond, letting you know when you no longer need to eat. The exciting thing about Hoodia, says Dr. Dixey, is that it contains "a molecule that is 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to."

Hoodia works in each body a little bit differently. Some people report that it works for them immediately, suppressing hunger pangs within 20 to 30 minutes after taking the weight loss hoodia pills. However, the majority of people typically need up to two weeks of taking the pills on a regular basis in order to feel the appetite-suppressing effects. When these effects kick in, you will have a reduced interest in food and will feel full more quickly, followed by a loss of weight and improvement in your health and energy levels.