Hoodia is one amongst the 13 species of a flowering plant family, Apocynaceae. A stem succulent, Hoodia is easily mistaken to be a cactus with its remarkable resemblance. But it is not. Growing to a height of up to a meter, Hoodia has large strong smelling flowers often having a tan color. They are found in the natural habitats in Namib Desert in Africa spreading from southern Angola to Central Namibia. One of the several species of Hoodia, the Hoodia gordonii has been under investigation for use as an appetite suppressant. The plant has been extensively marketed across the world for weight loss. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert are the originators of this claim. The plant takes five years to flower after which it is harvested. For centuries they have been using the plant for various purposes such as appetite suppressant when on long hunting trips in the desert and treating small infections and indigestion.