History of the Hoodia Gordonii Cactus
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.
One does wonder why we have not heard about Hoodia Gordonii plant earlier and why people are talking about it now. The truth is that very few details about this plant is available as it is a difficult plant to grow and is very uncommon.
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.
Many scientists got interested in the plant when the news of the effects of the Hoodia Gordonii plant on the appetite spread. They found it to be a potential for developing herbal weigh loss supplement from the cactus. Hoodia was used on animals to test its properties by a number of scientists during the sixties. They came to the conclusion that Hoodia Gordonii did have the ability to curb thirst and hunger.
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.
Food and Drug Administration has not given an approval to Hoodia Gordonii plant for being used in supplements for losing weight due to this reason. One can use it as a supplement for weight loss when more research has been done on it and its properties are established.
One of the biggest problems with the Hoodia Gordonii plant is that it is very uncommon and can only be grown in humid and very hot climate which is found in the deserts of South Africa. This can be reason that the weight loss supplement made from it will be expensive as well as difficult to get.
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