MEDICINAL PLANTS

The cactus is a plant belonging to the family of the cacti, comprising about 1400 species of succulent plants, succulents, the stem segmented blades that overlap, usually without leaves (or with small leaves) but almost all with numerous thorns or prickly pear cactus has spines all over its body surface, formed by way of spades crimped over each other. On premises where the spikes appear previously found a small short-lived leaves dry and fall relatively quickly. The flowers are also born on the blades, especially at the edges. Cacti are American plants, especially in the area of Mexico, where they appear everywhere. In our peninsula can be found on sunny slopes of the south.

FLOWERING

Flowers and fruits during the hot season, ie summer. From collecting interest for medicinal purposes throughout the plant, since the blades, which technically are called filocladios-up flowers and fruits.

APPLICATIONS

The blades or filocladios newly caught, contain up to 90% water, which becomes due to the carbohydrate mucilage that swells within it. Flavonoids found in flowers and also some of mucilage and fruit juice have pectins, tannins, vitamin C and up to 12% sugar. The blades, for its high content of mucilage, are demulcent. The flowers have an astringent, diuretic and spasmolytic and fruits are astringent, vitamin and antidiarrheals. This diverse composition of the plant makes the blades are shown on boils, abscesses, gastroenteritis and rheumatism. In turn, the flowers are used against gastrointestinal spasms, diarrhea and in those cases in which want to increase urine production. The fruits are eaten peeled piece to cut diarrhea. If you want to take a dessert, it is best to benefit from the juice released (properly prepared).

ADMINISTRATION

Decoction. Prepared from blade, previously peeled. This tea is used very effectively against colds, coughs, cystitis and gastroenteritis. If the condition is to treat a boil or abscess, these blades are then applied as poultices hot.
Syrup. Peel the figs and cut into slices, placed in a suitable container and covered with sugar, letting them marinate overnight. The next morning, has formed a delicious syrup, which is passed through a strainer and take cold. If the aim is to soften the cough, then you can warm up a bit.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Cacti
HABITAT: Sunny slopes of the south
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Shovels, flowers and fruits
CASTILIAN: Nopalera, chumbera
CATALAN: Figuera de moro
BASQUE: Indiapico

USES

Strong Anti-infective gastrointestinal, Antidiarrheal Strong, Diuretic Moderate.