Prickly Pear Cactus Seed Oil (Opuntia Ficus Indica) – CARRIER OIL

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail (*CAUTION: For external use only.) Prickly Pear Cactus Seed Oil (Opuntia Ficus Indica)   COMMON NAME :  Prickly Pear Cactus SCIENTIFIC NAME :   Opuntia Basilaris / Opuntia Ficus Indica OTHER NAMES :  Opuntia, Tuna (fruit), Sabra, Sabbar, Nopal (pads), Nostle (fruit), Paddle Cactus, Cactus Fruit, Cactus Fig, Indian Fig, Nopales, Tzabar (fig) FAMILY :  Cactaceae METAPHYSICAL / SPIRITUAL ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Fire Planet: Saturn Day: Tuesday Direction: South Zodiac Sign: Scorpio Chakra: 3rd Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) Energy: Yang Gender: Masculine Tarot Card: Strength Spirit Animal: Tortoise, Scorpion Sabbat or Holiday: Litha / Midsummer / Midsomer / the Summer Solstice (btw. June 19-24) ; the Full Strawberry Moon (June) Deity or God / Goddess Association: Huitzilopochtli, Kratos, Shiva   Ingredients:  100% Pure Organic Cold-Pressed Prickly Pear Cactus Seed Oil Description:  Prickly Pear Cactus is a flowering cactus known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers. Prickly pear is most commonly used for the fruit, but is also used for the plant itself. Prickly pears produce an edible fruit known as tuna, commonly eaten in Mexico and in the Mediterranean region, which is also used to make aguas frescas. In Mexico, the prickly pear fruit is often used to make appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, vegetable dishes, breads, desserts, beverages, candy, and jelly. The fruit must be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin. Prickly pear is a prime source of food for the common giant tortoises in the Galápagos Islands. Young and tender prickly pear cactus pads are also edible. They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine in dishes such as eggs with nopal, or tacos de nopales. In 2009, it was introduced as a cheaper alternative to corn for the production of tortillas and other corn products. They can also be pickled. Prickly pear cactus seeds can be used for flour. According to a Mayo Clinic article, prickly pear cactus is promoted for helping symptoms of diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and hangovers. It is also known to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Preliminary studies have shown that prickly pear cactus can decrease blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Some research also suggests that the extract may lessen the unpleasant effects of a hangover. In Mexican folk medicine, prickly pear pulp and juice are considered treatments for wounds and inflammation of the digestive and urinary tracts. Prior to modern medicine, Native Americans and Mexicans primarily used it as a coagulant for open wounds, using the pulp of the stem either by splitting the stem or scraping out the pulp. Prickly pear seed oil (which is a carrier oil that does not require dilution) contains many healthful compounds known to have hydrating, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Research suggests that the contents of prickly pear oil can reduce skin inflammation, as well as prevent skin damage and acne. The oil carries different types of fatty acids, phenols, nutrients like vitamin E, phytosterols, and antioxidants. It is often used in skin-care products suitable for all skin types and is helpful as a carrier oil for delivering vitamin A from other oils into the skin. Prickly pear seed oil is also high in linoleic acid, which helps the skin retain water, keeping it hydrated. Prickly pear cactus seed oil is a carrier oil and does not require dilution. Historical Uses:  STEM PULP : abrasions, cuts, grazes, scrapes, wounds, stopping bleeding PADS, FLOWERS, STEMS, FRUIT : diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, weight loss, hangover, high blood sugar, antiviral, inflammation SEED OIL : antibacterial, dry skin, inflammation, irritated skin, acne   Mystical Attributes:  The cactus fig is called tzabar in Hebrew. This cactus is also the origin of the term sabra used to describe any Jew born in Israel. The allusion is to a thorny, spiky skin on the outside, but a soft, sweet interior, suggesting, though the Israeli sabras are rough on the outside, they are sweet and sensitive once one gets to know them. This term is derived from an Arabic word for this cactus, where the related term sabr also translates to “patience” and “tenacity”. In Palestine, prickly pear cactus represents qualities of resilience and patience. The plant’s ability to thrive anywhere is also considered to reflect the experiences of the Palestinian diaspora. Mystical Intentions:  patience, tenacity, determination, survival, resilience, endurance, empowerment, overcoming obstacles, hope, perseverance, bullying, cruelty, despair, discrimination, helplessness, vulnerability, intimidation, sabotage, freedom Other Uses:  The thick skin of prickly pear cactus can be harvested as an environmentally-friendly leather replacement. Bioethanol can also be produced from some species. And the juice can be used to produce bioplastic. Taste & Smell:  Prickly pears have a sweet flavor that is often compared to melon, kiwi, or watermelon. Some say they also taste like naturally sweetened bubble gum. They have a sweet fruity scent that can be invigorating and crisp. Prickly pear seed oil (NOT for internal use!) is said to have a pleasant, vegetable-like smell, similar to olive oil but with strong notes of almond. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Prickly Pear Cactus is a large, trunk-forming, segmented cactus that can grow to 16-23 feet with a crown of over 10 feet in diameter, and a trunk 3 feet in diameter. Cladodes (large pads) are green to blue-green, bearing few spines up to 1 inch, or may be spineless. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded cladodes (also called Platyclades) containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids that readily adhere to skin or hear, then detach from the plant. The flowers are typically large, axillary, solitary, bisexual, and epiperigynous, with a perianth consisting of distinct, spirally arranged tepals and a hypanthium. The stamens are numerous and in spiral or whorled clusters, and the gynoecium has numerous inferior ovaries per carpel. Placentation is parietal, and the fruit is a berry with arillate seeds. Prickly pear species can vary greatly in habit; most are shrubs, but some are trees. Prickly pears are native only to the Americas. Through human interaction, they have since been introduced to many other areas of the world. Prickly pear species are found in abundance in Mexico, especially in the central and western regions, and the Caribbean islands (West Indies). In the United States, prickly pears are native to many areas of the arid, semi-arid and drought-prone Wester and South Central United States, including the lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains and southern Great Plains, and to the desert Southwest, where several types are endemic. Prickly pear cactus is also native to sandy coastal beach scrub environments of the East Coast from Florida to southern Connecticut. Additionally, the eastern prickly pear is native to the midwestern “sand prairies” near major river systems, such as the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers. The plant also occurs naturally in hilly areas of southern Illinois, and sandy or rocky areas of northern Illinois. The Opuntia species of prickly pear cactus are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti, extending into western and southern Canada. Prickly pears were originally imported into Europe during the 16th century. They are now found in the Mediterranean region of Northern Africa, especially in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, where they grow all over the countryside, and in parts of Southern Europe, especially Spain, where they can be found in the east, southeast, and south of the country, and also in Malta, where they grow all over the islands, and in southern Italy, especially in Sicily and Sardinia. They can be found in enormous numbers in parts of South Africa. It is considered an invasive species in Australia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Hawaii, among other locations. Buds appear, grow, and begin transformation into pads. The pad continues to grow to a tender edible state, then into a mature pad. Prickly pear thrives in regions with mild winters having a prolonged dry spell followed by hot summers with occasional rain and relatively low humidity. A mean annual rainfall of 350-500 mm (14-19-1/2 inches) provides good growth rates. It proliferates in various soils ranging from subacid to subalkaline, with clay content not exceeding 15-20% and the soil well-drained. The shallow root system enables the plant to grow in shallow, loose soils, such as on mountain slopes. It spreads into large clonal colonies, which contribute to its being a noxious weed in some places. Prickly pear cactus is primarily pollinated by bees, while a few species are pollinated by hummingbirds. Contraindications & Toxicity: Consumption of prickly pear cactus may cause diarrhea, nausea, increased stool volume, increased stool frequency, and abdominal fullness.   Constituents: Polyphenols Betalains Gallic acid Vanillic acid Catechins Betalain Betanin Indicaxanthin     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. 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