Opuntia - Beneficial Properties, Reproduction And Care Of Prickly Pears. The Use Of Oil And Recipes For Prickly Pear

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Prickly pear

Reproduction, care, useful properties and recipes for the use of prickly pear

Botanical characteristics of prickly pear

Opuntia is a perennial plant belonging to the cactus family. In nature, prickly pear is found in the form of a branching shrub, simply creeping plants on the ground and a tree reaching 6 meters in height. Most often, the plant has a round, branched and succulent stem. The stem consists of flat oval segments, which are located separately from each other and come in different sizes. All segments are shrouded in hairs and spines.

The prickly pear has spines called glochidia. These spines are bunches of sharp, thin, but fragile setae located in pubescent areoles. The flowers of this plant are very large, they are of various colors (yellow, red and orange), shiny. Flowers are arranged singly, have many short stamens and pistils.

The fruits of prickly pear are swollen leaves, juicy and fleshy. Inside, the fruit contains seeds in an ossified shell. The prickly pear is an amazing plant, because it is able to develop new flowers with shoots from the fruit, and the seeds inside will be absent in the fruits.

Opuntia can be seen in the steppe zones of Canada, Southern Argentina, Central America. It is grown in Turkmenistan, the Caucasus, and the Crimea.

Reproduction of prickly pear

Opuntia is propagated by cuttings and seeds. Cutting is the easiest of these propagation methods. To do this, in the summer, you need to cut the cuttings so that they take root by the fall and endure the winter well. Sprinkle the cut of the cutting with crushed crushed coal. Next, the sprinkled cuttings are left for 4 days to dry. Wet calcined sand is prepared for rooting cuttings. The cuttings should not be exposed to direct sunlight. When the cuttings take root, they are planted in the prepared soil.

For seed reproduction, spring is chosen. The prickly pear fruits ripen 4-6 months after flowering, after which the seeds can be extracted and sown from the fruits. Germination is maintained for more than 2 years. The collected seeds are left for 24 hours in warm water: this is necessary for the seeds to germinate better. Greenhouses with at least 25 ° C warmth are best suited for sowing seeds. In addition, fluorescent lamps must be installed in the greenhouse. It will take a long time for the seeds to germinate, but it will be worth it because the seedlings will be very strong and large.

Opuntia care

In order for the prickly pear to grow and develop well throughout the year, it needs to be provided with good lighting. If you decide to grow prickly pear in your apartment, then place the pots with this plant on the south or east window. But in the summer, prickly pears need fresh air, so they take it out into the street.

Opuntia tolerates heat well and is not demanding on temperature conditions. Water the prickly pear should be sparingly and only if the soil in the pot is dry. It is impossible to water prickly pear more than once a month, since it has not yet "absorbed" the previous water. If the pots with the plant are kept in a room in which the temperature is 5 degrees Celsius, then in this case the prickly pear does not need to be watered at all. Do not water the plant too often, as this will cause its roots to rot.

From April until the beginning of autumn, fertilizers must be applied to the soil once a month.

Opuntia does not tolerate transplanting well, but if there is a need, then only spring is suitable for this process. In fact, the transplant of prickly pears can be done once every 3-4 years. For transplanting, you should purchase a pot of medium depth, but very wide. The soil in the pot should be prepared in advance: they take a red brick, crushed together with crushed charcoal, mix it with turf soil - and now the soil for transplanting is ready.

Opuntia is often attacked by root nematodes, due to which the plant quickly dies. This infection can be easily detected, for this you just need to look for spherical bulges on the roots of the plant. If they are present, then there are microscopic worms in the roots. To get rid of them, you need to immerse the plant roots in hot water for 10 minutes (no more than 50 ° C Celsius). The root collar of the plant should not get into the water. Next, we take out the roots and process them with crushed charcoal. To avoid infestation of the roots with these worms, only sterile soil should be purchased for planting.

Useful properties of prickly pear

Opuntia is a plant with many beneficial properties. Its flowers and stems are used for obesity, diabetes, stomach ulcers, constipation and gastritis. The leaves contain calcium and potassium, which stimulate the body to produce insulin. The flowers of the plant have an astringent effect, moreover, they are used for bleeding as a means that stops the blood.

Opuntia is good for the elderly as it has the ability to make the muscles of the bladder stronger. The flowers of the plant are used for various inflammation processes. Opuntia increases immunity and has a general strengthening effect on the entire human body. Opuntia is the first remedy for thirst, radiation and dehydration. The plant is an excellent antibiotic.

Opuntia oil

Opuntia oil is obtained using the method of maceration of prickly pear flowers with vegetable oils. Opuntia oil contains a large amount of organic acids, sterols and tocopherols. Due to the content of fatty acids in this oil, it has beneficial properties. Opuntia oil is a very valuable remedy for hair and skin problems. It can be used neat or diluted. They lubricate the chest, making it more elastic and increasing its tone. Facial wrinkles can be removed by smearing the face with prickly pear oil mixed with avocado oil.

The use of prickly pear

Preparations from fruits, flowers, stems and roots of prickly pears have long been used in folk medicine. For example, a plant shoot is used as a poultice, which is brought to a boil and cut lengthwise. Opuntia is used to treat scurvy. This plant has amazing antiseptic and bactericidal properties, thanks to which it is very useful for diseases of the throat, various inflammations of the urinary organs and intestines.

Opuntia helps to improve the functioning of the liver, kidneys and spleen, improves blood circulation in the brain and memory. Also prickly pear normalizes metabolic processes in the body. Tincture from this plant helps men fight impotence.

Opuntia for weight loss. Opuntia is used in the fight against excess weight, and quite successfully. At the same time, prickly pear not only eliminates excess weight, but also provides the body with all the substances it needs. Preparations from this plant prevent the formation of fats. Opuntia breaks down existing fats and removes them from the body. The prickly pear contains plant proteins that get rid of cellulite and edema. With the help of this plant, obese people quickly get rid of extra pounds, and this does not harm their body, but on the contrary, bringing it only one benefit.

Tincture of prickly pear. Take a leaf of this plant, then cut it into pieces and fill it with vodka so that it completely covers the leaves of the plant. Leave the composition to infuse for 2 weeks. Take 15 drops of this tincture for leg aches. You also need to spread it on your feet.

Opuntia for ulcers and wounds. In this case, you need to take the prickly pear, remove all the thorns and remove the skin. The finished bare sheet is applied to the ulcer or wound, applying a bandage on top of it. This procedure is done no more than 5 times.

Broth of prickly pear for bronchitis. To prepare it, you need to take the pulp of the prickly pear and chop it, pour it into the glass, filling it by 1/3, then you need to pour all 200 ml of boiling water. We put everything on fire for 15 minutes. After straining the broth, it must be brought immediately, without allowing it to cool, with boiled water to its original volume. Take a ready-made broth, 2 teaspoons 4 times a day before meals.

Tincture of prickly pear for cystitis. Take 1 glass of crushed plant fruits and fill it with a glass of boiling water. Leave it for 7 days to infuse, remembering to shake it periodically. After straining the tincture, take it in 2 teaspoons diluted in 50 ml of water, three times a day before meals.

Contraindications to the use of prickly pear

Fresh prickly pear juice may cause red spots, headache, nausea or vomiting. That is why, before using drugs from this plant, you need to consult a doctor.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).