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Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

OTHER NAME(S): Barbary Fig, Cactus Flowers, Cactus Fruit, Cactus Pear Fruit, Figue d'Inde, Figuier de Barbarie, Fruit du Cactus, Fruit de l'Oponce, Indian Fig, Indian Fig Prickly Pear Cactus, Indien-Figue, Nopal Cactus, Nopales, Nopol, OPI, Oponce, Opuntia, Opuntia ficus, Prickly Pear, Spineless Cactus, Tuna Cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, Cactus decumanus, Cactus ficus-indica, Opuntia albicarpa, Opuntia amyclaea, Opuntia cordobensis, Opuntia decumana, Opuntia ficus-barbarica, Opuntia gymnocarpa, Opuntia hispanica, Opuntia joconostle, Opuntia maxima, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia paraguayensis., Prickly Pear, Opuntia ficus indica, Opuntia Fruit, Opuntia-Ficus Indica, Nopal

Overview

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a plant native to Mexico. Its fruit and stems are commonly eaten and used as medicine in Mexican cultures.

Prickly pear cactus might lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels by reducing how much the stomach absorbs.

People most commonly use prickly pear cactus for diabetes. It is also used for enlarged prostate, hangover, high cholesterol, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

References
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