Nopal cactus has long been used in traditional Mexican folk medicine for treating diabetes, and American Indians used it for treating burns. Today, it is used in juices, alcoholic drinks and as a medicine. There are a wide variety of medicinal uses for nopal cactus, but more scientific information is needed from human studies to rate its efficacy for any health problem. Therefore, talk to your doctor before using nopal cactus.
Identification and Dosing
Nopal cactus is also called opuntia, prickly pear, cactus pear fruit, nopol, tuna cardona, and westwood-pear, among other names. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or NMCD, nopal cactus has been studied for diabetes in daily doses of 100 to 500 g of broiled stems, divided into three equal amounts and taken throughout the day. For treating benign prostatic hypertrophy, 500 mg of dried powdered flowers are taken three times daily, reports the NMCD.
Uses
According to Wellness.com, nopal cactus is the most commonly used treatment for lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetes among individuals of Mexican descent. Nopal cactus is also used for obesity, high cholesterol, colitis, diarrhea, viral infections and benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. Other uses include alleviating inflammation and constipation. Some use a specific nopal cactus extract five hours before drinking alcohol to prevent a hangover.
Effectiveness
According to the NMCD, nopal cactus is possibly effective for treating type 2 diabetes, particularly the broiled stems of the species Opuntia streptacantha. Nopal cactus is also possibly effective for relieving symptoms of hangover from alcohol, especially nausea, loss of appetite and dry mouth. There is not enough reliable scientific information to confirm the effectiveness of nopal cactus for other uses.
Considerations
Nopal cactus is considered as possibly safe when taken in medicinal amounts for a short time, reports the NMCD. However, nopal cactus can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, increased stools, and headache. Nopal cactus should be avoided within two weeks of surgery and during pregnancy or lactation.
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