This is the time of year when desert dwellers have the opportunity
to delight in the prickly pear cactus. The magenta colored fruits begin to replace their yellow blossoms with the cactus’ green “nopales,” or pads. There are about 350 varieties of prickly pear that provide nourishment and medicine and “People have been using the plant for thousands of years,” according to Patti Milligan who is a corporate nutritionalist. “Then the science follows and guess what? It makes sense.”
Health professionals, botanists and cooks know that prickly pear is a rich source of magnesium and the amino acid taurine, along with nutrients that can be important to brain and heart function. It additionally contains Vitamin C, calcium and potassium and has little cholesterol or saturated fat with an abundance of flavanoids and antioxidants that keep arteries healthy. Research done in Mexico revealed that the cactus pads can even help regulate blood sugar in diabetics. Pills and powders made from prickly pear cactus are produced widely in Mexico as use for medicines.
Availability
Prickly pear usually ripens from June through August. Depending on the species, the fruit may or may not be as sweet as it is juicy and nutritious but can be blended with ice and sweetener to make it tastier. We must also know and remember that like most other wild plants in Arizona, the prickly pear cactus is protected by law and may not be harvested without the necessary permit. We can however find remedies and supplements made from it, in health food and whole food stores around the state.
Prickly pear is also known as Opuntia, paddle cactus or nopales. They are native only in the western hemisphere but have been exported to other parts of the globe. The “cactus figs” are often used to produce candies, juices and even honey. The jell-like sap can be used as a hair conditioner and Mexicans have used it for thousands of years to produce Colonche, an alcoholic drink. The Mexican coat of arms depicts a Mexican golden eagle perched atop a prickly pear cactus, devouring a rattlesnake.
Southwest Décor
Just like the giant saguaro and the tumble weed, the prickly pear cactus can be spotted in multitudes of paintings and other art forms suggesting the vast deserts of the great Southwest. These symbols suggest a challenging lifestyle suitable for the stouthearted and sturdy among us. And so we are. American Indians often relate the “medicine” of any particular plant to possess the ability to nurture all three components of the body, mind and spirit of the individual. Just growing them in the garden and watching and participating in their evolution, we become like those natural healers by a process of simple interaction with the species. If we strive for strong physical and spiritual health, most will agree that we will do well to surround ourselves with those components that have the power to nurture and heal us. In so doing, we find harmony with the unique characteristics of the high desert grasslands along the shores of Beaver Creek.
