Hoodia Gordonii is a leafless, spiky succulent grown naturally in South Africa. There are 46 species of Hoodia and only 2 that contain the appetite suppressant qualities that people seek. Hoodia, is registered as a protected species by the South African Nature Conservation and certain farmers are granted a special permit that allows them to commercially grow and harvest the plant fo sale to the consumer market. This plant is now being grown in sustainable quantities and has become widely known for its effects as an appetite suppressant.

For many generations the nomadic SAN tribeʹs people of the region have used the Hoodia Gordonii plant to suppress appetite and thirst during long hunting trips of several days duration. Although there are over 20 species in the Hoodia family only the Hoodia Gordonii plant contains a natural appetite suppressant. It was not possible to patent a naturally growing plant, so the SAN tribes people sold the ʹtraditional knowledgeʹ rights to develop a drug based on the new molecule contained within Hoodia Gordonii to a UK based firm called Phytopharm. For more information Click Printable Brochure