Hoodia is a succulent plant found in the Kalahari desert of South Africa. Hoodia plants are not cacti, although they do have a spiny appearance similar to cacti. A species of the family Apocynaceae, Hoodia gordonii is widely used traditionally by the San people of southern Africa as an appetite suppressant, thirst quencher.

The Hoodia gordonii plant has been used for centuries by the San people of South Africa’s Kalahari desert, to suppress the appetite during long hunting trips. The naturally occurring phytochemicals in Hoodia create a feeling of fullness after ingestion. As a result of these properties, Hoodia powder is becoming an increasingly popular herbal as a natural aid to weight loss or healthy weight management.

Hoodia gordonii is very rare and is protected by national conservation laws in South Africa and Namibia. It can only be collected or grown with a permit. Hoodia gordonii and its use as a natural weight loss aid was recently featured on CBS 60 Minutes.
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Herbal Teas International is an authentic "direct from source" supplier of Hoodia gordonii to the North American market.

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Used by the bush people of the Kalahari desert for centuries, today Hoodia gordonii is available to consumers as a natural aid to maintaining healthy weight. read more about Hoodia gordonii and healthy weight maintenance>