San People and Hoodia Gordonii

For many centuries the San people (also often named as San bushmen) of the Kalahari desert in Southern Africa have used Hoodia plants as a food. The species Hoodia gordonii was less often used because of its lingering bitter taste being considered unpleasant. However, in times of hardship, or being away from familiar areas, it was sometimes eaten by the San people.

In most parts of this site we give emphasis to the fact that the best hoodia gordonii comes from South Africa. Even more, some cheap hoodia products might be counterfeited with mexican or chinese hoodia or other hoodia varieties. The most frequent situation is that counterfeited hoodia does not have hoodia at all.

Is it correct to say that the only hoodia gordonii as raw material comes from South Africa? The answer is NO. But let us explain some points about it.

In Botswana, Hoodia spp are protected by the Agricultural Resources Conservation Act, in which Hoodia is listed as a veld product.

In Namibia, all Hoodia species are protected and prior authorization is required for harvesting or trade. No wild harvesting has yet been authorized until a status review has been completed.

In South Africa, Hoodia species are protected species in the Northern Cape (Environmental Conservation Ordinance No.19 of 1974).

No collecting is allowed without a permit.

Hoodia Utilization - Hoodia Trade - Where the Hoodia comes from?

National Utilization

Hoodia spp. are widely used traditionally by the San people as an appetite suppressant, thirst quencher and as a cure for severe abdominal cramps, haemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes.

Various uses have been recorded among Anikhwe (northern Botswana), Hei//om (northern Namibia), Khomani (north western South Africa), and the !Xun and Khwe (Khoe) (originally from Angola) communities.

Several species occur in very large populations over large areas (several more than 10,000 km2).

This includes Hoodia Gordonii, which is the species currently most sought after for trade in weight reduction products.

There are, however, other closely related species that are less prolific, occurring in isolated patches with an overall low density, and a relatively small distribution range (less than 1,000 km2).

Hoodia occur in summer rainfall areas in Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, as well as winter rainfall areas in Namibia (MET 2002).

All taxa except one are found west of 26° longitude from 33° degrees south to as far north as Angola.

The only exception is H. currorii subsp. lugardii, which occurs in Botswana and the Limpopo province of South Africa.The centres of diversity are in Namibia (11 taxa) and South Africa (9 taxa)

Source CITES