Hoodia

History:

Hoodia is a succulent plant that is native to the Kalahari Desert, a large, arid and sandy area covering much of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Colonel R. F. Gordon first discovered Hoodia in December, 1778, and the plant’s botanical specific, gordonii, was bestowed in his honor. The genus, Hoodia, was given in honor of the keen succulent grower, Van Hood. In the early stages of growth, the leafless plant produces only one fleshy, ribbed, thorny stem, but later it branches with as many as fifty heavy boughs, bearing flowers that emit the unpleasant carrion-like odor of decaying flesh, which attracts the many flies that are needed for the plant’s pollination. The flowers vary in color from beige to deep crimson and bloom in August or September. Hoodia resembles a cactus, but it is clearly a succulent that can reach a height of about five feet, normally exposed to extreme heat, but also surviving in relatively low temperatures in a wide variety of habitats, including the deep Kalahari sands, on dry, stony slopes or flats and under the protection of xerophytic bushes. Although there are several different species of the genus, Hoodia, the species gordonii is considered the only one with the active steroidal glycoside considered effective and official as a natural appetite support without any harmful side effects. The Bushmen (called the San or Khoi San tribe) of the Kalahari have been traditionally chewing Hoodia for many centuries to manage hunger (the Anikhwe of northern Botswana were said to feed pieces of Hoodia to the children who “eat too much” to make them eat less). The San people also employed the use of this succulent plant in their traditional medicines for abdominal, venous, digestive, blood pressure and sugar health.The fleshy part of the stem is dried and made into a powder for use in herbal supplements. Hoodia is very rare, and strict conservation laws of South Africa and Namibia carefully control the harvest of this plant (by permit only) to prevent it from becoming extinct. Hoodia has also been included in a 2004 CITES Appendix to conserve indigenous plant populations within South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, and because of its rarity, it is important to ensure that the product purchased is only Hoodia gordonii from South Africa, and not another plant species, since the industry has unfortunately been flooded with adulterated and misrepresented materials reported to be Hoodia gordonii. With respect to this very important subject, BioCell HoodiaBioCell Hoodia™ is authentic Hoodia gordonii, sourced exclusively from the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsule, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there appear to be no warnings or contraindications with the use of Hoodia Herbal Supplement. Results may vary with regard to the time that Hoodia takes effect; some are immediate; and some may take several weeks.

Capsule Information:
Our Hoodia supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.