Prickly Pear Cactus

picture acquired from: http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/opuntia_robusta2.jpg
The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.), also known by the names of nopal, tuna, beaver tail cactus, has many culinary and medicinal uses.

There are more than 300 species of prickly pear cactus, all of which are native to the Americas. The prickly pear cactus is a rustic, rugged plant with extensive segments. These segments called platyclades are characteristic of the cactus. These pads are oval succulent and "meaty" and their color varies from green to purple depending on the species.

Both the pads and the fruit are edible. For example the segments are extremely versatile and can be eaten raw, stir fried, grilled, and have a flavor which in my opinion is reminiscent of green bell pepper with a hint of lime. One of my favorite recipes is to stirfry onions prickly pear pads, serrano chili pepper and fresh tomatos with a little bit of salt.

The fruits known in mexico as xoconostle are delicious and from my experience I can tell you that each specie's fruit has a different taste and it ranges from acidic to sweet like the ones in the Sonoran desert that taste like water melon!

Not only is the prickly pear cactus and its fruit edible they are also have various traditional medicinal properties.

externally a poultice can be made raw or heated to treat bruises or contussions, you can also use the viscous substance that emminates from the pads to treat burns.

Internally: raw they can be eaten or drunk (after being blended) to help regulate blood sugar, aid digestion, and heal the gut.

The prickly pear cactus can be found growing wild in the desert and you can collect it by cutting the pads and scraping the spines off. Or you can buy them in some super markets whole with spines and all, chopped without spines, or bottled in vinegar.

Ashta nemanha nuiknew (until next time my friends)

The Value of Medicinal Teas

Now a days when one goes to the grocery store, health food store etc. here in the United States one sees shelves full of capsules, tinctures and other liquids in beautifully decorated and colorful bottles, most of the time these herbal supplements are quite steep and out of the reach of most of us. I dont want to degrade the importance and value of these products that are often times convenient, easy to transport and sometimes are the only way to get a hold of a fragile herb. Nevertheless we must not forget the humble medicinal herbal tea that has been used for millenia all over the world.

The medicinal herbal tea is not any less effective than other types of herbal preparations. There is a myth that is propogated in alternative medicine circles that states that herbal teas are not necessary because they have been substituted by more modern forms of preparation. In my opinion this boils down to nothing more than a smear campaign against teas in order to sell more expensive products

Photo acquired from: http://supplementalscience.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/cuppa-tea-govna/

Below I have provided some of my reasons as to why I believe medicinal teas are extremely valuable:

1) They are cheap

2) The person has a personal interaction with the herb they are going to use

3) The preparer is directly involved in the process of making their medicine

4) They are easy to make

5) There is no Alcohol involved

6) They are fast to employ

7) Its great to sip a cup of tea with a group of friends

8) They are effective

Ashta Nemanha Nuiknew (until next time my friends)