Information and Research
Opuntia Ficus Indica
The Opuntia belongs to the Cactaceae family, which originates in Central America from where it was transferred to countries with tropic and sub-tropic climates, including Israel. The uses of the Opuntia and its flower are numerous, depending on the specific country and its folklore. In Central America, the stems are used as an external treatment for the dysfunction of the liver, skin problems and inflammation of the eyes. As a liquid it is drunk for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, worms and certain problems of the digestive system. A decoction of the plant roots is used as medicine for diarrhea and gonorrhea.
In India, the infusion of dry Opuntia flowers is used to alert urination.
In many countries, different species of the Opuntia and its various parts are used in healing different and varied illnesses.
The Opuntia Flower has a high concentration of minerals such as: Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc. The zinc is vital to the normal function of the prostate gland. The quantity of Zinc in the Opuntia Flower is 0.5 mg/100gr. Among its other properties, Zinc was found to be highly absorbent of vitamins (mainly B-Complex). It is a component in about 25 different enzymes in the metabolism and it is one of the insulin components, essential in building the nuclear acids, etc.
With regards to the urinary system, it was found that the Opuntia Flower is especially effective in treating different phenomena of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (in males over the age of 45), such as high urgency and frequency in urinating, a feeling of the need to urinate, dribbling at the end of urination, and the urgency to urinate more than twice during the night.
As for women, it was found that the Opuntia Flower is very effective in treating phenomena such as the urgency and frequency in urinating, loss of control over the sphincters and recurring inflammation of the urinary system. Altogether it provides better control of the function of urinary system.
In order to confirm the variety of the Opuntia Flower's activities on the urinary system, clinical studies were made in hospitals with men who had suffered varying disorders in the urinary systems as an outcome of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. Altogether a significant improvement in most of the patients was found. Most of the men showed a substantial improvement in the urgency to urinate and the need to urinate a number of times during the night. X-rays that were taken showed a definite reduction in the size of the prostate gland. During the time the Opuntia Flower has been on the market for treating the urinary system, many patients reported on a significant improvement in the function of the urinary system, and a significant overall relief.
Clinical trial results confirmed the reports of the symptoms of benign prostate hypertrophy following treatment with dried flowers of Opuntia-ficus-indica. A large number of patients reported a decrease in the urgency to urinate, emergency urination and a feeling of fullness in the bladder. No deterioration in urinary function was detected for any of the patients in the clinical trials. Kidney performance and the urodynamic parameters did not change in the treated patients.
A subjective alleviation of discomforts associated with prostatic hypertrophy was noted by patients using dried flowers of Opuntia Ficus-indica, Indian fig prickly pear cactus. These results were encouraging and suggested the cactus may have clinical application in the treatment of enlarged prostate glands. It was concluded that the adoption of use of the Opuntia Ficus-indica flowers could benefit patients affected with benign prostate hypertrophy.
Research
Treatment of benign Prostatic Hypertrophy with Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. By Dan Palevitch, Gideon Earon and Israel Levin. Publisher: International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, September 1994
Cactus flower extracts may prove beneficial in benign hyperplasia due to inhibition of 5alpha reductase activity, aromatase activity and lipid peroxidation. By Adi Jonas, Gennady Rosen, Daniel Krapt William Bitterman, Ishak Neeman, Springer Verlag, 1998