Thanks the Hoodia Gordonii cactus from South Africa,the
world of diet may live a revolution in the weeks to come.
This revolution will be the work of the hoodia (hoodia gordonii),
a cactus cultivated by the tribe of the "San", living 1000 km of
Johannesburg. Indeed, this tribe of South Africa cultivates this
"succulent" plant for its incredible virtues. A "miracle" molecule
was isolated in the hoodia that acts directly on the part of the
brain controlling satiety, like does glucose. But contrary to glucose,
this molecule does not generate any calories!
Will the marketing of the hoodia put an end to the fashion of synthetic
appetite suppressants, which commonly fail to make us lose weight
but make us lose money? What if the hoodia gordonii was the ideal
appetite suppressant, a natural product really effective and without
any danger for our organism?
"For thousands of years, African tribesmen have eaten the Hoodia
cactus to stave off hunger and thirst on long hunting trips. The
Kung bushmen who live around the Kalahari desert in southern Africa
used to cut off a stem of the cactus about the size of a cucumber
and munch on it over a couple of days. According to tradition,
they ate together so they brought back what they caught and did
not eat while hunting.
Now the Hoodia, which grows to 6ft - taller than the bushmen
themselves - is at the centre of a bio-piracy row. Campaigners
say the cactus has attracted the interest of the Western drug
industry, which exploits developing countries through the international
patent system. In April, when pharmaceutical giants were being
accused of failing to provide affordable Aids drugs in Africa,
Phytopharm, a small firm in Cambridgeshire, said it had discovered
a potential cure for obesity derived from an African cactus."
Note: Due to the nature of much indigenous knowledge, which is
often transmitted orally, there is little prior art evidence for
traditional uses of hoodia.
Common Names:
Hoodia, Queen of the Namib, African Hats, Milkweed.
Flower:
Pink to maroon corona, 8-10cm diameter - smelly !
Fruit:
Foliage:
Pale green to purple, branching stems with short woody tubercles
that are sometimes pointed. Stems 5cm diameter, spiny.
Height:
to 45 cm
Form:
Perennial. Clumping. Hoodia are not cacti, they are succulent
plants from the HYPERLINK "a1.asp?title=Asclepiadaceae&list=240"Asclepiadaceae
"Milkweed" Family.
Uses:
Medicinal: appetite suppressant and thirst quencher.
Minimum Temperature:
USDA zone: 11 (to 10° Centigrade)
Frost Tolerance: to 28°F ( -2°C).
Cultivation:
Hoodia gordonii is said to be the easiest Hoodia to cultivate
!
Full sun to light shade.
Hoodias have a reputation for being rather difficult. Apart from
H. alstonii all species easily root from cuttings. Light requirements
during growing season - medium (only morning or afternoon sun)
to high (full sun during whole day). Minimum winter temperatures
15 degree/day, 10 degree/night.
Watering:
Winter - keep completely dry
Spring/autumn - give little water and allow soil to dry out after
watering
Summer - normal watering (allow soil to dry out after watering)
Tolerance to cultivation - medium - generally reasonably tolerant.
Although the bushmen say they use ALL species of Hoodia for appetite
control, the most often mentioned species is Hoodia gordonii.
Seeds germinate best around: 15-26°C. (60 to 80°F).
Growing medium: 3 parts volcanic tufa, 1 part leaf-mold or peat;
2 parts coarse river sand.
Seed count roughly 250 seeds in 1 Gram.
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