Category: Indigenous knowledge

For over 1,500 years, the Guaraní people, native to Paraguay and Brazil, have used the stevia plant, which they call 'ka'a he'ê,' or 'sweet herb'. This traditional use far predates its modern commercialization as a zero-calorie sweetener.

For over 20,000 years, the San people have inhabited the challenging environments of Southern Africa, relying on extensive plant knowledge for survival. A key part of this knowledge answers the question: **What did the San people use hoodia for?** They used it to suppress hunger and thirst during strenuous hunting expeditions across the harsh Kalahari Desert.