Hoodia Gordonii: The Diet Cactus

The Hoodia Gordonii Discovery - A few years ago scientists researching in the African Kalahari were amazed to discover the properties of a unique desert plant. The San Tribesmen have been munching for thousands of years on the Hoodia Gordonii cactus as an appetite suppressant.

Food in the region is scarce and the huntsmen sometimes go on long hunting trips which can last for days. In order for them to be able to bring home the food they have caught, they cut a slice of Hoodia Gordonii Cactus and munch on it. This relieves them of hunger and thirst for the duration of the trip, enabling them to take home the food and feed their families without having the desire or temptation to eat it on the way home.

Scientists were dumbfounded and soon after drugs companies descended on the region to study the cactus.

It was not long before Pfizer, the US drug giant responsible for Viagra, had - via one of its sister companies - patented the active ingredient in the cactus, and started a phase 1 program to develop an anti-obesity drug. They discovered that the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii sent a signal to the brain 10000 times stronger than glucose, telling you that you did not need to eat and were in a state of satiety or 'fullness.' Since then trials have continued yet the drug itself is up to four years away from full development.

There are, however, natural Hoodia Gordonii products already available worldwide.

More Hoodia Gordonii info:

Wikipedia.org

horticopia.com

bbc.co.uk

cbsnews.com

guardian.co.uk

Case Western