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Hoodia gordonii is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It is a plant that reaches up to 1 meter in height. It has large purple or tan color flowers with strong smell. It is also called locally xhooba, Ghaap and khoba. It is also known as ‘Queen of the Namib’ and ‘Bushman’s Hat’. Hoodia is found naturally in Southern Africa in the semi-deserts of the countries of Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Angloa. It is particular to the Namib Desert. 

The San Bushmen who inhabit the Kalahari Desert have always known about the various uses of hoodia. They are known to consume the stems of hoodia plant during the long drawn hunt that takes them far away often without sight of food for days. The plant suppresses their urge to eat and drink. They also use the plant for treating various other health problems such as severe abdominal cramps, diabetes, hemorrhoids, hypertension, tuberculosis and indigestion. There are varieties of hoodia plants, about twenty of them. of them, it is only hoodia gordonii that is found to contain hunger. The plant flowers after about five years.

The outside world came to know about the use of hoodia when a Dutch anthropologist reported it in 1937. But it was not until 1963 that scientist began to examine this. The scientists of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), the national laboratory of South Africa, along with the scientist of Phytopharm, a British company, conducted various studies. They were also able to identify and isolate its principal ingredient, a steroidal glycoside, which they named it as p57. Later it began to be sold in the liquid and capsule form all over the world. It gained popularity as hoodia p57. Hoodia is found to suppress appetite when it sends signals to the brain that strongly suggests that the stomach is full. This kills the appetite making the obese people to eat less.

With hoodia becoming popular, the plant was indiscriminately harvested from its natural habitat. This led CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), to declare the plant as facing the risk of being included as an endangered species. CITES included it in Appendix II. This meant that its trade had to be controlled. The Botanic Gardens Conservation International listed the plant in 2008 as facing extinction due to indiscriminate extraction by traders. Hoodia soon began to be cultivated under government control in farms in Kalahari Desert. It also helped to ensure that the San Bushmen also received benefits from the royalty.

One of the greatest and ever increasing concerns in the world today is obesity. Though there are two great solutions to this concern, not everybody is able to follow these solutions. Exercising and following a proper diet are the top two ways a person who is obese can control themselves.

With experiments being conducted and new inventions and products being released into the marketplace at such a rapid rate many people have been able to find replacements to exercising and following a good diet plan. In our modern world substitutes like weight losing pills and herbal slimming teas can be found at almost every supermarket.

You must have come across Desert burn reviews in some newspaper or magazines. This industry began in 2004 and sells products that contain hoodia in it for all those who wish to control the great amount of cravings they have for food.

To go into greater depth and detail about these products you can simply do a little research on the internet and even order products online. These products are available in many different forms such as capsules, tea, coffee, shakes or tablets. You must be wondering what exactly is in hoodia and not in other products? Hoodia intake results in curbing your appetite so that you are able to lose weight. It is best to use these products only till you lose the amount of weight you want rather than regularly.

Since such products are usually available in the forms of tablets and capsules many people think of them as medication and feel that they will have some sort of side effect. Due to this reason, a majority of overweight people prefer to exercise and control their diet. If you feel that you are really overweight then you may have to follow a strict workout routine that will be made for by your instructor. This can include lifting weights, running, jogging, stretching or floor exercises. By simply just controlling your diet you will feel a difference in yourself. This does not mean to starve yourself as that will just make you feel weak and can cause illness. Instead eating healthy food and burning more calories than you take in can lead to weight reduction as well.