The South African Hoodia Gordonii Cactus is also called xhooba or xshoba by the San Bushmen. They have used it to treat minor skin infections, indigestion and to suppress thirst and appetite during hunts, some of which went on for a long time.
The Hoodia Gordonii cactus is actually a succulent plant, which resembles a cactus, so cactus is not technically the correct term for it. Hoodia grows wild throughout the Kalahari desert.
The South African Hoodia cactus can be tricky to grow commercially. It needs desert-like temperatures to thrive and can take up to five years to reach maturity. The wild plant can only be exported in very limited quantities because the South African government wants to protect it from being over-harvested.
The first company to research the Hoodia Gordonii cactus properties was Phytopharm. They have plantations established in South America but are not planning to sell their patented product for a few years.
There are over twenty different hoodia varieties but Hoodia Gordonii is the only one believed to contain an appetite suppressant. It contains a molecule which fools your brain into thinking your stomach is full. Hoodia Gordonii has no known side effects. There are companies selling products containing hoodia but unless they are using authentic Hoodia Gordonii, appetite suppressant effects might be limited or non-existent.
If you are thinking about purchasing hoodia, choose a product from a reputable company. You should also remember that Hoodia suppresses thirst so make sure you drink plenty of liquids, especially water, even if you do not feel thirsty.