While Hoodia is a plant of the genus Apocynaceae, the South African succulent actually can resemble a flowering cactus, although it is totally unrelated to any member of the cactus family. The Hoodia plant lives and thrives in the South African Kalahari desert, and can grow to an average of three feet in height. Of course this is just an average. Some Hoodia plants grow larger, and some remain smaller, depending on the individual plant itself. Hoodia plants produce colorful, large flowers, that give off a strong odor. It is often mistaken for a member of the cactus family because of the spikes that cover the plant in its entirety.

African Bushmen, and members of the Sans Tribe, have been using the Hoodia plant for thousands and thousands of years as a natural appetite suppressant. By chewing on the rind of the plant, or by chewing on the spikes, tribe hunters were able to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunts in the desert. The Sans people also use Hoodia for other medical reasons. These medical reasons include:

• to treat high blood pressure and hypertension

• to help relieve stress

• to treat diabetes

• to build energy and strength

Because of these medical benefits, the Hoodia plant has quickly become popular worldwide.

The increasing popularity of the Hoodia plant, and the great demand, finally resulted in the plant receiving "protected" status in most South African countries. This means that exportation of the Hoodia plant is mostly forbidden in South Africa. However, some channels of exportation are still in place, allowing manufacturers all over the world to create and sell different Hoodia products.

The active ingredients in the Hoodia plant were segregated by a United States pharmaceutical company named Pfizer and were named "P57". Pfizer made plans to synthesize the active ingredients, then market them in attempt to help fight obesity. However, in 2002, Pfizer halted their plan, and released their rights to "P57". Some people speculated that the reasoning behind the release of their rights to "P57" was because perhaps the active ingredients did not live up to their claims. However, Pfizer claims that the active ingredients were just to difficult to synthesize, resulting in the release of the rights.

While the effects Hoodia will have may very from person to person, the purity and potency of Hoodia products may vary from brand to brand. Quality Hoodia should come straight from South Africa and be certified 100% pure. At this rate, common recommended dosage can range from 500 mg a day all the way up to 3,000 mg a day. The actual dosage will totally depend on the individual person, but should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before each meal.

Despite the lack of scientific studies and research, Hoodia diet supplements are quickly becoming the choice of many dieters worldwide. When used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise plan, Hoodia diet supplements can help decrease calorie intake and help take off extra weight by naturally suppressing your appetite.