...EAT THIS!

The Healing Properties of Cacti


Nutritional Values of Cacti:
Vitamin and mineral content
Potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamin A &C
Amino acids
High-quality source of protein
8 essential amino acids
Fiber source
Found in the mucilage: “sticky juice”

Uses:

Diabetes - The fruit and stems are used

as a primary anti-diabetic herb by managing

blood sugar levels for adult-set type 2 diabetes.
Poultice and ointment -

Skin sores, burns, rashes, insect bites,

muscle and arthritis pain.

Can be used like aloe by slicing open the pad,

heating and applying to the area needing attention.
Homeopathy - Spleen and diarrhea.

Want to know more?
The book: PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS MEDICINE, by Ran Knishinsky has everything about treatment for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and the Immune System. Get it at your local library or your favorite bookstore. Or go on the Internet and search for “prickly pear cactus medicine”.

How to prepare:

-You can singe the little hairy stickers off over the gas stove burner. (Stick a fork in it and you can twirl it like a marshmallow over the flame!)
-Peel them and eats them like an apple. Beware: They'll turn your fingers a lovely shade of purple.
-Use them to top a pavlova, a cheesecake, as a fruit garnish, or to add unique color to a fruit salad. When seasonal berries and kiwi are expensive, tuna are a great substitute.

Preparing the juice (if you want to make drinks):

Prickly Pear Juice Extraction
1. Collect prickly pear (tunas) with kitchen tongs or leather gloves.
2. Rinse tunas in water to clean out insects and dirt.
3. Place tunas in freezer.
4. Get container which will hold the juice.
5. Place frozen tunas on cheesecloth over a colander.
6. Place the container under the colander.
7. As the tunas thaw, the juice will flow down into the container.
8. Use the juice in your favorite recipe.
9. Do other chores while the tunas are thawing!!!!

Prickly Pear Margaritas

6 oz Tequila

4 oz Triple Sec

4 oz Lime Juice

4 oz Prickly Pear Cactus juice

2 oz Orange Juice

Directions: Mix ingredients and pour over ice.

Tuna Juice Wine Cooler

1 Scoop of ice 4 ounces Prickly Pear juice

1/2 glass Chablis wine

1/2 Glass 7-up

Directions:

Fill glass with the ingredients and stir well.

TEQUILA SUNRISE
2 oz. Tequila

4 ounces cactus tuna juice
2 dashes (3/4 oz) grenadine

Directions:

Pour tequila and tuna juice in a highball glass.

Add ice and stir. Tilt the glass and pour the

grenadine down the side. The grenadine should

fall to the bottom of the blass and then rise slowly.

Garnish with an orange slice. This drink is

sometimes stirred gently.

NOTE: If you're away from home and plan to have more than one drink, please get a designated driver!!!