Fwd: Opuntia spp. - Special Report - Medicine at your Feet

[Guest guest]

 

 

> David Bruce Leonard <drkitsch

> Mon Aug 18, 2003 02:22:10 PM US/Pacific

> David Bruce Leonard <drkitsch

> Opuntia spp. - Special Report - Medicine at your Feet

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> This information is through the grace and kindness of my

> Hawaiian and Chinese teachers and my gratitude goes out to

> them. Any errors are mine alone.

>

>

> Aloha Herb Nerds,

>

> Dennis McKenna and Kat Harrison will again be hosting Ethnobotany in

> Hawai'i

> from January 5-16, 2004. I will be there to help them teach, cause

> trouble,

> and add my unsolicited opinions to matters at hand. These are world-class

> ethnobotanists who really know their stuff. We had lots of fun last year,

> and this year should be even better. See

> http://www.csh.umn.edu/whatsnew/index.html for more information.

>

> This special report is on Panini (Prickly Pear Cactus), one of my favorite

> Hawaiian foods, in spite of its' alien psychopathology. It is used in TCM

> and many other traditional medicines, and currently enjoys a very positive

> reputation in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

>

> Malama pono.

>

> Aloha kakahiaka kakou,

>

> David

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> PLANT NAME: Opuntia spp.

> SIMILARLY USED SPECIES: Lots of them. O. ficus-indica, O. vulgaris, O.

> decumana, O. compressa, O. leucotricha, O. streptacantha, O. stricta,

> Cactus

> opuntia, (You get the idea...)

> COMMON NAMES: PANINI, Papipi [Hawai'i]; Prickly Pear, Barbary Pear, Indian

> Pear [English]; Aathikan [Nepal]; Cockineal [bermuda]; Nopal (whole plant)

> ,

> Tuna (fruit) [Mexico]; Nopal [south America]; Rachette, Cochineel

> [Carribean]; Saptapheni.[india] Scoggineal [Creole]; Tuna, Pa'kam [Mopal

> Maya]; Xian Ren Zhang [China]

> NOMENCLATURE: " Opuntia " is thought to be taken from the name of a town in

> Greece.

> FAMILY: Cactaceae

> PROPERTIES: Bitter, cool. Fruits are sweet.

> STATUS IN HAWAI'I: Tasty and painful alien. Very high pest factor.

> Terminate

> with extreme prejudice.

> WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: Analgesic (rhizome) [China]; anti-diarrhea

> (rhizome) [China]; anti-inflammatory; antipyretic (rhizome) [China];

> antiseptic; antitoxic (rhizome) [China]; antitussive (rhizome) [China];

> astringent (flowers poulticed) [Turkey]; decongestant; demulcent

> (decocted)

> [Central America]; diuretic [Mexico (juiced), Seri, Sicily (flower

> decocted), USA]; emollient [ficus-indica [spain]; expectorant [Africa,

> Bahamas]; hallucinogen [sharanahua (Peru)]; lactagogue (pads peeled,

> cooked, poulticed) [uSA]; laxative [Hawai'i]; reduces swelling (rhizome)

> [China]; stop bleeding (flowers)

> TRADITIONAL CHINESE ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS (~ = extrapolated): Regulates Qi.

> Invigorates Blood. Clears Heat and Toxin (rhizome)

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> COMMON MEDICINAL USES:

> * Diabetes

> * Benign prostatic hypertrophy

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> MEDICINAL USES

> COSMETIC

> * Balding [belize]; hair conditioner (fruit poulticed on hair then rinsed)

> [barbados, Belize, Carribean, USA]; increase hair growth (roots)

> * Body lotion, hair gel, shampoo, and face cream [Mexico]; moisturiser &

> sunscreen (leaves juiced) [Native American]

> * Moles [blackfoot]; pimples [india]

>

> CARDIOVASCULAR

> * Arteriosclerosis; high blood pressure (pad decocted) [belize]; high

> cholesterol (pads) [Mexico]

> * Bleeding (pads topical) [Kiowa]

>

> DERMATOLOGICAL

> * Hematoma (rhizome) [China]

> * Inflammation [barbados, Carribean, Mexico, Sri Lanka]

> * Rashes, sunburn (juice topical)

> * Skin ulcers (pad topical) [belize]

> * Warts [blackfoot, Nanticoke (topical fruit juice), Shoshone]

>

> DIGESTIVE

> * Colitis (dried flowers); diarrhea (flower as tea, root chewed, or stem

> infused) [China, Flathead, Hopi, Seri, Turkey, USA]; dysentery [China,

> Colonial USA, Turkey], irritable bowel syndrome (flower as tea)

> * Gastric and duodenal ulcer [China]; gastric pain (pads peeled and boiled

> in seawater) [barbados]

> * Diverticulosis (dried flowers)

> * Dyspepsia [Kickapoo]; gastrointestinal complaints (pads eaten or flower

> as tea) [Canary Islands, Pima]

> * Hemorrhoids [China]; obesity (pads) [Mexico]

>

> ENDOCRINE

> * Diabetes (pads ingested broiled, blended or as juice) [Mexico, Research]

>

> HEAD AND THROAT

> * Cankre sores (pads poulticed); sore throat [China, Costanoan, Dakota,

> Pawnee, Shoshone, Shuswap]; epidemic parotitis (pads topical) [China];

> toothhache [seri (Mexico)]

> * Headaches (pad poulticed or decocted topical) [barbados, Belize, Native

> American]

> * Eye problems (pads, decocted topical) [Native American]; ophthalmia

>

> INFECTION

> * Boils [bahamas, India (latex topical), Navaho, Sri Lanka]

> * Fever (pads topical, decocted) [belize]

> * Popliteal abscess (pads topical) [China]

>

> MUSCULOSKELETAL / TRAUMA

> * Arthritis [belize]; backache [Flathead]; fruit used as heating pads for

> muscle pain and to reduce swelling.joint pain (pad topical) [Costanoan,

> Dakota, Pawnee, Shoshone, Shuswap]; rheumatic conditions (heated pad

> topical) [uSA]

> * Bruises (Veterinary) [Kickapoo]pain (pad poulticed) [barbados]; spasms;

> swelling (pad poulticed) [barbados, Kickapoo, USA]

> * Burns [China]cuts and burns (pad ash topical) [Cahuilla]; wounds

> (flowers

> poulticed or pad topical) [bahamas, Blackfoot, Costanoan, Dakota, Pawnee,

> Shoshone, Shuswap]

> * Dog bites (pads topical) [China]; snakebite [China, Native American

> (indigestible seeds reclaimed and ground... yum!...)]; tarantula bites

> (poultice)

> * Fractures [Mexico]

> * Gout (pads topical) [bahamas]

>

> ONCOLOGY

> * Tumors [Chile, Haiti, Mauritius, USA]

>

> PARASITES

> * Favus (a scalp parasite) [China]

>

> PEDIATRIC

> * Measles [sicily]

> * Mumps [Kickapoo]

> * Pertussis

>

> PSYCHOSPIRITUAL

> * Used in magickal traditions for protection against negativity, unwanted

> intrusions, burglaries, and to induce chastity.

> * Insomnia (pads, decocted) [Native American]

> * Malaise (pad decocted) [belize]

>

> REPRODUCTIVE

> * Benign prostatic hypertrophy (flowers) [british Herbal Pharmacopeia]

> * Chronic vaginitis (dried flowers)

> * Excess menstruation (pads peeled and boiled in seawater) [barbados]

> * Gonorrhea [uSA]; syphilis [india]

> * Mastitis [China]; sore breasts from nursing (topical) [sri Lanka]; to

> increase lactation (heated pad tropical) [shoshone]

> * To facilitate childbirth [belize, Lummi (pads infused)]

> * Used by Navaho midwives to lubricate their hands before removing the

> placenta.

>

> RESPIRATORY

> * Asthma (dried flowers or heated pad topical) [uSA]

> * Bronchial problems [Africa, Canary Islands]; cough [Africa]lung ailments

> (pad in tea); mild bronchiectasis (dried flowers)

> * Lung abcess [China]

> * Tuberculosis [bahamas]

>

> URINARY

> * " Bladder conditions " [belize]; dysuria [bahamas]; male urinary

> discomforts

> [Native American]; urinary tract infections (juiced) [Mexico]

> * Kidney problems [sicily]; kidney stones (pads juiced)

>

> OTHER MEDICINAL USES

> * For " organ pain " a mold of the patient's foot is cut from the skinned

> pad

> and dried over a fire. [belize]

> * Calluses [south Africa]; corns [Argentina]

> * Leprosy [Ethiopia]

> * Radiation burns

> * Shortwindedness [seri (Mexico)]

> * Thirst

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> USE AS FOOD:

> * The use of cactus as food has been carbon dated to 65 B. C.

> * In Mexico, Opuntia fruit ( " Tuna " ) is made into jam, marmalade, syrup,

> and

> a paste called Queso de Tuna.

> * Eaten during lent in Mexico, when the Catholics don't eat meat.

> * Fruit can be eaten fresh or dried for storage. [Cahuilla] They can be

> boiled like greeens, pickled, cooked like eggplant, or put in scrambled

> eggs.

> * Pads are despined, peeled, boiled and eaten. Young pads are preferable

> and

> can be breaded with seasonings and fried, sauteed, or boiled.

> * Flowers roasted and eaten [Pima]

> * Dried seeds are used as a soup thickener.

> * A Central American beer, Colonche, (reputed to be over 2,000 years old)

> is

> made from Opuntia fruit. And in Mexico, a beverage called Tecuin is made

> with Opuntia fruit and Acacia bark.

> * The fresh juice can be blended with orange or grapefruit juice.

> wine (which reportedly ferments in a day)

> * The annual amount of Nopalitos eaten in Mexico is the same as the annual

> amount of cauliflower eaten in the US.

>

> OTHER USES:

> * Dye (fruit) [barbados, Mexico]

> * Hunting poison [Navaho]

> * The Pima tribe makes the dried plant into, napkin rings, canes, and

> souvenirs. Some tribes added the juice to mortar or whitewash [Native

> American]

>

> PLANT PART USED: All of it.

>

> CONSTITUENTS: Plant: 17 amino acids (8 essential), B vitamins, calcium,

> magnesium, iron, and insoluble fiber (cellulose and lignin).

> Fruit: 83% water,10% sucrose, tartaric acid, citric acid, mucilage &

> mucopolysaccharides,

> Seed: Fixed oil, fatty acid, albumen and starch.

>

> TOXICITY: The aerial parts are safe, even if eaten in large amount. The

> spines in one's skin, however, are an acquired taste. Some Chinese sources

> list the roots as mildly toxic.

>

> CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not in pregnancy (root).

>

> PREPARATION OF MEDICINE: Medicine must be made from fresh materials, not

> dried. When cooked, keep the slimy material (pectin) and don't rinse it

> off

> as it is medicinal. Please note: Pads are always used peeled or with the

> spines burned off.

>

> DOSAGE: Fresh 30-60 grams.

>

> COMBINATIONS:

> * For urinary obstruction, flowers with Hordeum vulgare (Barley seeds) &

> Zea

> mays (Yu Mi Xu / Corn Silk) [North Africa]

> * With honey for respiratory infections

> * Boiled with milk for dysentery (root)

>

> RANGE: Where ever it pleases. Semi-tropical and tropical areas. North,

> Central, and South America to Southern Europe, Mediterranean, India, &

> Australia.

>

> HABITAT: Likes it dry and sunny.

>

> GATHERING: Gloves. The fruit is a favorite and delicious food at luaus,

> although gathering it can prove to be a very interesting experience. The

> short barbed hairs that protect Opuntia spines (as if they need any

> protection) are called " glochids " and living are proof that evolution does

> indeed adore a psychopath. After harvest the tiny biological reminders can

> continue their imbedded lessons for days.

>

> PROPAGATION & CULTIVATION: Do not propagate in Hawai'i. Opuntia spp. can

> be

> tenacious invaders, both in the Hawaiian Kingdom and elsewhere. In

> Australia alone they took over 24 million hectares and had to be

> eradicated.

> A predator moth, (Cactoblastus cactorum), was used to keep the Opuntia

> from

> spreading. However, in Arizona Opuntias are protected, as they are native

> to

> North America.

>

> RESEARCH:

> * Decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic animals (mechanism may be due

> to fiber). Opuntia is low-calorie and high-fiber.

> * Improves benign prostatic hypertrophy.

> * Lowers LDL cholesterol

> * Panini has ingredients such as pectins and mucilage that are helpful to

> digestion.

> * Provides nutrients to the pancreas and liver.

> * May prevent fat and sugar in the colon from entering the body.

> * Analgesic & anti-inflammatory in rats and mice.

> * O. ficus-indica may inhibit Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B).

>

> NOTES 'N QUOTES:

> * Native to the Americas. Opuntia was brought to Europe by the Spanish in

> the 1500s and was introduced to Hawai'i from Acapulco by Don Francisco

> Paul

> de Marin before 1809. (Thank you, Don Francisco)

>

> * There are 87 genera in the Cactaceae family and 2000 species. In the

> Opuntia genus alone there are 300 species . This includes a cultivated

> variety, Opuntia ficus-indica cv., which has no spines.

>

> * Nopal, or Nopalli was the Nahuatl name for Prickly Pear.

>

> * The Aztecs, after wandering for 157 years, one day saw an eagle perched

> on

> a Prickly Pear cactus. It had a snake in its talons and its wings were

> opened and embraced the rising sun. They took this as an omen that this

> was

> to be the place where they were to build their city. That city was called

> Tenochtitlan ( " Place of the Prickly Pear " ) and it is now known as Mexico

> City.

>

> * Juan de Zumarraga, the first archbishop of Mexico, spent much of his

> spare

> time trying to eliminate all remnants of native culture. Sound familiar?

> In

> his zeal to " cleanse " the New World of pagan ways, he managed to destroy

> most of the information as to how cacti were used as food, medicine,

> housing, dyes, glue, tools, and as spiritual implements.

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> BOOK SOURCES:

> A Compilation of Names of All of China's Herbal Medicines (Quan Guo Zhong

> Cao Yao Ming Jian)

> A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants

> Antiviral Res 1996 May;30(2-3):75-85

> Big Dictionary of Chinese Herbs (Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian):

> Bush Medicine in the Bahamas by Leslie Higgs

> Edible Wild Plants by Peterson

> Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

> Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants by Chevallier

> Handbook of Hawaiian Weeds

> Herbal Materia Medica by Michael Moore

> Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii by Wagner

> Medicinal Herbs of Hong Kong

> Medicinal Plants of Nepal

> Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West by Michael Moore

> Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore

> Oriental Materia Medica by Hsu

> Rainforest Remedies by Arvigo

> The New Holistic Herbal by David Hofman

>

> INTERNET SOURCES:

> http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/AJP/AJP_1898_No_3.pdf

> http://desertusa.com/magoct97/oct_pear.html

> http://desertusa.com/magoct97/oct_pear.html

> http://hometown.aol.com/vanishwood/guild/brew1.htm

> http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003mdv

> http://tchester.org/fb/plants/na_uses.html

> http://www.aaas.org/international/africa/moz/bandeira.html

> http://www.al-fin.com/healthfitness.htm

> http://www.arizonacactus.com/medicine.htm

> http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/dictionary/tico/o.html

> http://www.herbalremedies.com/pricpearop.html

> http://www.herbamed.co.il/prost1.html

> http://www.herbvideos.com/global.P.htm#Prickly%20Pear

> http://www.herbvideos.com/survivetips.htm

> http://www.herbweb.com/herbage/A341.htm

> http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/cereus.html

> http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/find_lat?LAT=opuntia & COM= & FAM=

> http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_23.html

> http://www.mssrf.org/Fris9809/Fris1249.html

> http://www.nybg.org/events/armdang.html

> http://www.plantasmedicinales.org/abstract/feb2002/Opuntia%20ficus-indica.

> ht

> m

> http://www.plantgenome.uga.edu/project-cactus.htm

> http://www.rivenrock.com/rivenrocklinks.html

> http://www.tamuk.edu/webuser/cactus/cac_med.html

> http://www.tcisearch.com/articles.htm?storyid=18

> http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb/

>

> *************************

> David Bruce Leonard, L.Ac.

> Medicine at your Feet

> 'Awapuhi Health Sanctuary

> Post Office Box 1332

> Kapa'au HI 96755-1332

> 808-889-6886

>

> http://www.medicineatyourfeet.com

> http://www.awapuhihealth.com

>

>

>

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

 

 

Thanks for posting something about Chinese herbs. And thanks David for

sending Todd the materials. (I hope I've got that right.)

 

In any case, here's a summary on Xian Ren Zhang (Rhizoma Opuntiae,

Immortal Person's Palm) from the Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian rendered in

Nigelspeak. Since I see these growing around me every day, I was

prompted to translate this. (I was going to go and paint a shed, but

this is more interesting.)

 

Some other Chinese names: Dragon Tongue, Old Duck Tongue, Spirit

Immortal Palm

 

Nature & flavor: Bitter, cold (one alternate source says cool; one

alternate source says astringent; one alternate source says no toxins)

 

Channel entry: Heart, lung, stomach (no alternate opinions)

 

Functions & indications: Moves the qi and quickens the blood, clears

heat and resolves toxins. Treats heart-stomach qi pain, glomus lumps,

dysentery, bleeding hemorrhoids, cough, sore throat, lung abscess,

breast abscess, clove sores, injury by [scalding] soup or fire, snake

bite

 

Other sources says that it disperses the initial stages of all sorts

of glomus; treats qi pain; disperses swelling toxins and malignant

sores. One source says fortifies the stomach, enriches and nourishes,

invigorates and strengthens, supplements the spleen, and quiets the

spirit. Otherwise, most of the ben caos cited concentrate on sores,

inflammations, piles, wounds, and dysentery/diarrhea.

 

Dose: When boiled as a decoction for internal administration and used

fresh, 1-2 liang. Can also be ground into powder, tinctured in

alcohol, or mashed for external application.

 

Prohibitions: One source says this medicinals is contraindicated or

prohibited in case of vacuity cold.

 

Basically, all of the representative treatments using this medicinal

use it as a simple. There are no polypharmacy formulas. From some of

the titles cited, this appears to be primarily a folk herb.

 

Fun. I certainly enjoy eating these when I'm in Mexico. By the way,

I'll be teaching again in Spring 2004 at Kailum II in Quintana Roo on

the Costa Maya.

 

Bob

[Guest guest]

I looked into this before I passed it on. It looks like a great

opportunity for someone at $495,000. I attached my questions and David's

answers.

 

 

 

> David Bruce Leonard <drkitsch

> Mon Aug 18, 2003 02:22:10 PM US/Pacific

> David Bruce Leonard <drkitsch

> Opuntia spp. - Special Report - Medicine at your Feet

>

>

> Aloha Herb Nerds,

>

> I hope you are all happy.

>

> Our retreat facility 'Awapuhi Health Sanctuary is for sale. After much

> consideration, we have decided to downsize our lives and move off the

> grid.

> Check out http://www.awapuhihealth.com/hawaii-real-estate.html for more

> details. It is the perfect venue for someone wanting to start a small

> spiritual or health retreat center on the Big Island.

>

 

How many students could the classroom area

accommodate if they were seated for lecture?

 

> 15-30 in chairs.

 

How many for a tai ji or

yoga class?

 

> Yoga, 12, about. The class size is 800 square feet. Or should I say round

> feet.

 

Could visitors camp?

>

> Yes. There is 3 acres of ironwood forest perfect for campsites.

 

Can additional buildings be constructed

 

> Legally, you'd have to check with the county. There is space to erect more

> buildings, but again you'd need to see it. Another pod could be added if

> it

> was connected with a roof.

 

and is the property zoned for a retreat and clinic, etc?

 

> No, it's zoned agricultural. We haven't had any problems.

>

> There is an herb room, a diagnosis room and one treatment room. There are

> four dormitory style bedrooms that could sleep 11 couples (or singles who

> wanted to sleep alone). One of the bedrooms could easily be retrofitted to

> become another treatment room. Plenty of gardening space.

 

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein