Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine: Treatments for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and the Immune SystemThe first complete guide to natural healing properties and uses of the prickly pear cactus • Examines the scientific research promoting the cactus as a natural diabetes and cholesterol medication as well as its use in the treatment of obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, skin ailments, and viral infections • Explores the healing uses of prickly pears from the perspective of doctor, chemist, ethnobotanist, cook, and layman • Includes 24 cactus recipes--from Prickly Pear Bread to Cactus Candy The prickly pear cactus--a plant that has the distinction of being a vegetable, fruit, and flower all in one--is destined to be the next big herbal superstar, following in the footsteps of St. John’s wort and Echinacea, according to author Ran Knishinsky. One of the driving forces behind its popularity is that each part of this plant functions as both food and medicine. It has been a staple in the diets of the people of the southwestern portion of the United States, the Middle East, parts of Europe and Africa, and Central and South America for hundreds of years. Traditionally, the prickly pear cactus has been used as a panacea for over 100 different ailments. More recently, it has been the subject of blood cholesterol research trials sponsored by the American Heart Association. In addition to the results of this research, Knishinsky includes scientific studies on the antiviral properties of the cactus to treat herpes, influenza, and HIV, as well as its use in treating obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin ailments. A resource section details the natural food companies that supply prickly pear cactus and a chapter of recipes offers 24 traditional and modern dishes using the pads and fruit of the cactus. |
Contents
What Is a Cactus? | |
The CactusDiabetes Connection | |
The CactusCholesterol Connection | |
Other Benefits of and Treatments Using Prickly Pear Cactus | |
Application and Dosage of Prickly Pear Cactus | |
Cactus Cooking | |
APPENDIX A Prickly Pear Suppliers | |
APPENDIX B Herbal Education and Natural Product Services | |
Footnotes | |
Other editions - View all
Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine: Treatments for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and the ... Ran Knishinsky No preview available - 2004 |
Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine: Treatments for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and the ... Ran Knishinsky No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
½ cup ¼ cup A. C. Frati-Munari active administered American antidiabetic antioxidants Archivos de Investigacion Arizona blood glucose levels boil botanical broiled cacti cactus extracts cactus flower cactus fruit cactus pads capsules cholesterol concentrations cholesterol levels clinical studies compounds control group cup raw sugar decrease desert diabetes mellitus dietary fiber dose drug Effect of Opuntia flavonoids fresh gelatin glochids glycemia guinea pigs Healing hepatic hepatic cholesterol herb herbal hypoglycemic effect infusion insulin intake joints Journal lemon juice Lipid Lipoprotein Materials and Methods mechanism of action Medicinal Plants Metabolism mg/dl milligrams minutes NIDDM nopal normoglycemic Nutrition Opuntia dillenii Opuntia ficus-indica Opuntia streptacantha oral Oxidant peeled percent phytochemical phytonutrients plasma cholesterol poultice prepared prickly pear cactus prickly pear flowers prickly pear fruit prickly pear pads prickly pear pectin Products scientists serum glucose serum glucose levels soluble fiber tablespoons teaspoon thorns Vitamin