Hoodia Gordonii Plant

Origin:
Hoodia is a variety of succulent plant that grows in the deserts of South Africa. This plant has close to 20 species. Out of which the ‘Gordonii’ variety contains the natural appetite suppressant. This plant is also known as ‘Xhoba’. It also helps in maintaining a very high energy level. This plant produces flower with a unique odour attracting insects, which help in pollinating them. This plant is used by the San people of the South African continent as a traditional food variety that reduces hunger and thirst. They cut the stem of the plant to the size of a cucumber and slowly eat them for hours.

What is Hoodia Gordonii?
A plant variety that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. They are succulents in cacti form. They grow up to 1 meter with large flowers, bright colors and strong odour that of rotten meat. These plants are highly protected and found in the deserts running from Central Namibia to Angola. It is also called ‘Bushman’s Hat’ and ‘Queen of Namibia. A number of species of Hoodia are grown as garden plants while the Gordonii variety is tested for its appetite suppressant feature. Hoodia is one of the 400 medicinal plants facing the risk of extinction according to a latest survey. This specie is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and will amount to illegally exporting if without a certificate under CITES from proper authorities.

Hoodia a Medicine:
This plant also seems to have certain medicinal properties. Certain tribes in Namibia boil Hoodia and use them as medicine for treating a number of ailments ranging from indigestion, tuberculosis, hemorrhoids, hypertension, diabetes and small infections. This plant mainly grows in the Namibia and South Africa, it is also seen widespread across Africa.

By:Steven Copper