Prickly Pear and its benefits  

The prickly pear cactus is native to North America and is grown in other countries such as Australia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean as well as many other countries

Also known as nopal, opuntia or barbary fig and is the most widespread and commercially grown cacti species world wide

Although the sweet pink fruit of this cactus has been eaten for hundreds of years, it has only recently been recognized for its health benefits

Nearly every part of the prickly pear can be used

As it is native to North America it is a popular ingredient in Southwestern and Mexican cooking

The flowers of the plant are used in perfumes as well as made into seed oil

The resin can be used to stiffen fabrics

It is known to be inti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial and is high in fibre as well as contains vitamins C, E, A, iron and calcium as well as high in various nutrients

Inside the fruit of the prickly pear are seeds that contain oil carrying different types of fatty acids, phenols, phytosterols and antioxidants

It is believed that prickly pear oil is good for skin health for all types of skin due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties

Prickly pear seed oil is commonly used as a carrier oil or it can be used on its own

Prickly pear is high in linoleic acid which is good for boosting the skin’s water retaining properties in turn helping to keep the skin hydrated

It is believed that the vitamin E content of prickly pear oil is triple of that in argan oil

In Mexican folk medicine it has been used to treat diabetes, dress abscesses, treat bug bites, high cholesterol, abdominal pain, high blood pressure, ulcers, fatigue, glaucoma, liver conditions and digestion

Points to be careful of:

Cactus water is highly acidic and therefore can be too strong resulting in side effects such as diarrhea or nausea or both

The needles / spines of the cactus can penetrate deep into the skin and can cause inflammation or infection of the skin if not removed and cleaned properly

It has been known that people can have an allergy to the prickly pear fruit and therefore it is advised not to use the oil if you are allergic to the fruit – it is advised to do a patch test first by applying a small amount of the oil onto your skin for 24 hours before using the oil