Hoodia

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Hoodia husabensis

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Palm house interior - Oslo Botanical Garden

Hoodia gordonii Stapeelia

Hoodia is an herbal supplement prominently recognized for its potential role in weight loss by suppressing appetite. Native to the arid expanses of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, this cactus-like flowering plant has seen both traditional and modern uses.

Source and Conservation

Hoodia originates from the parched terrains of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. The harvesting of this plant is stringently regulated to protect its conservation status. Several species of the Hoodia plant, with its notable natural habitats ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, are safeguarded due to their ecological importance.

Historical Context

The Kalahari Bushmen, also known as the San people, have utilized Hoodia gordonii for generations. Traditionally consumed to stave off hunger and thirst, the stems of the Hoodia plant proved essential for the Bushmen during extended hunting excursions.

Contemporary Uses

Today, Hoodia is primarily marketed as an appetite suppressant. The dried extracts of its roots and stems are processed into various forms:

• Capsules
• Powders
• Chewable tablets
• Liquid extracts
• Teas

It's not uncommon for Hoodia products to be complemented with other herbs or minerals, such as green tea or chromium picolinate.

Efficacy and Research

Despite its prevalent use, rigorous scientific evidence supporting Hoodia's effectiveness as an appetite suppressant remains sparse. There are no human-based studies on Hoodia published in peer-reviewed literature that conclusively validate its claims in appetite suppression or weight loss.

Safety and Considerations

The safety profile of Hoodia is not well-established. Potential risks, side effects, and interactions with other medications or supplements have yet to be exhaustively researched. The quality and authenticity of Hoodia supplements can vary significantly across products.

Adulteration Concerns

Some caution is advised for consumers, as certain products marketed as Hoodia may not contain the genuine herb.

Drug Interactions

Preliminary reports suggest that Hoodia might:

• Interfere with anesthesia
• Alter blood sugar levels
• Induce possible arrhythmias

Cultural and Traditional Context

Hoodia gordonii holds a special place in the indigenous knowledge of the San people, serving as an appetite suppressant to ensure survival in their challenging desert environment.

Ecological Importance

Many species of Hoodia are emblematic of the Namib Desert. They are commonly referred to by names such as "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib."

Species of Hoodia

Hoodia boasts a variety of species. While some are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, Hoodia gordonii is particularly notable for its investigation as an appetite suppressant. Additionally, Hoodia is enlisted in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Species list:

• Hoodia alstonii
• Hoodia cactus
• Hoodia currorii
• Hoodia mossamedensis
• Hoodia officinalis
• Hoodia parviflora
• Hoodia pedicellata
• Hoodia dregei
• Hoodia flava
• Hoodia gordonii
• Hoodia juttae
• Hoodia pilifera
• Hoodia ruschii
• Hoodia triebneri

Summary

Hoodia, with its deep roots in both ecological and cultural contexts, remains an area of interest for many. While its modern uses predominantly center around appetite suppression, the scientific community and consumers alike await more comprehensive research to validate these claims.

Hoodia Resources
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Also see Herbal supplements

Herbal and dietary supplements

• Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Bilberry, Black Cohosh, Butterbur, Cat's Claw, Cascara, Chaparral, Comfrey, Crofelemer, Echinacea, Ephedra, Fenugreek, Flavocoxid, Garcinia cambogia, Germander, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Greater Celandine, Green Tea, Hoodia, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Hyssop, Kava Kava, Kratom, Lavender, Maca, Margosa Oil, Melatonin, Milk Thistle, Noni, Passionflower, Pennyroyal Oil, Red Yeast Rice, Resveratrol, Saw Palmetto, Senna, Skullcap, Spirulina, St. John's Wort, Turmeric, Usnic Acid, Valerian, Yohimbine

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

• Ba Jiao Lian, Bol Gol Zhee, Chi R Yun, Jin Bu Huan, Ma Huang, Sho Saiko To and Dai Saiko To, Shou Wu Pian

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

• Herbalife, Hydroxycut, Move Free, OxyELITE Pro, SLIMQUICK

See also Nutritional supplements

Comprehensive list of common dietary supplements with detailed product information including brand name, how it is supplied, net contents, product ID etc, sorted alphabetically.

List of dietary supplements sorted alphabetically

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z – W – 0-9

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Dietary supplements

A Acai Aloe Vera Anabolic Steroids Astragalus Vitamin A B Bilberry Bitter Orange Black Cohosh Botanical Dietary Supplements Butterbur Vitamin B12 Vitamin B6 C Calcium Carnitine Cartilage Cat's Claw Chamomile Chasteberry Chondroitin Chromium Cinnamon Coenzyme Q10 Colloidal Silver Cranberry Vitamin C

D Dandelion Dietary Supplements Vitamin D E Echinacea Ephedra Essiac/Flor-Essence European Elder Evening Primrose Oil Vitamin E F Fenugreek Feverfew Fish Oil Flaxseed Folate G Garlic Ginger Ginkgo Ginseng Glucosamine Goldenseal Grape Seed Extract Green Tea

H Hawthorn Herbal Dietary Supplements Hoodia Horse Chestnut I Iodine Iron K Kava Vitamin K L Lavender Licorice Root M Magnesium Melatonin Milk Thistle Mistletoe Multivitamin/mineral Supplements N Noni O Omega-3 Fatty Acids

P PC-SPES Peppermint Oil R Red Clover S Sage SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine) Saw Palmetto Selenium Soy St. John's Wort T Tea Thunder God Vine Turmeric V Valerian Vitamin A Vitamin B12 Vitamin B6 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Y Yohimbe Z Zinc

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