Hoodia is a cactus like (actually not a cactus) plant also know as a succulent that grows from Namibia to Angola. It is partial to growing in rocky areas. More frequently the plant is called Bushman’s Hat and Queen of the Namib. Bushmen form the desert also call this plant Xhoba which is pronounced “GO BUH”

There are over 50 different named form of hoodia. It was first discovered in 1830 by Robert Sweet, a botanist.

For thousand of years the plants have been used to suppress appetite while the San Bushmen were on their long travels across the desert. Another side effect of eating the plant was reduced thirst. The bushmen would locate the hoodia plant and cut away the tough skin to reveal the soft inner part. They would eat the soft inside of the plant and this would quickly reduce their appetite and thirst.