United States faces a serious problem of overweight. Over half the above 20 population in the urban areas are overweight. More than $30 billion is spent every year on various prescriptions to lose weight. Tragically at the same time, a sixth of the world’s population is facing chronic hunger and starvation. Many weight loss programs such as dieting, weight loss diet, specialized diet, pills, physical exercises, drinks, capsules, shakes as well as surgeries are available to choose from.
There has always been a search for something painless and effortless by those who desperately needed to lose weight. The story of Hoodia gordonii that emerged from Africa about its ability to act as an appetitive suppressant was welcomed with great enthusiasm.
The cultural and religious life of the African people abounds in traditional remedies. For instance, over 156 medicinal plant species are reported to be used in gynecological complaints. When corporations or other commercial initiatives takes freely the traditional knowledge without the consent of the owners of the knowledge and commercializes them into a product, it is called ‘biopiracy’. The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed and subsequently patented Hoodia. CSIR sold the exclusive right to a British Company. After the issue of biopiracy was raised, a small percentage of the royalties was transferred to the trust on behalf of the San people. There is a proliferation of Hoodia products in the market such as Hoodia Pure, Dex L10 Hoodia , HoodiThin Liquid and many more.
The indigenous peoples inhabit a habitat for generations and centuries interacting intensely with nature. They depend on nature for their livelihood as well for survival that they revere nature as the provider of life. From these interactions and observations, they learn about the characteristics of various species and possible uses. These are then verified through repeated experimentation or from repeated similar experiences. This knowledge is then transmitted onward to the next generation. The knowledge covers all aspects of life and living including crops, food, human and animal health and even beauty care.
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