Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine by Ran Knishinsky

[Inner Traditions] The 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,