Читать книгу Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplement Use in People with Diabetes: A Clinician's Guide - Laura Shane-McWhorter - Страница 39

Nopal is a member of the cactus family and is also known as prickly pear. There are multiple species known as Opuntia, including O. megacantha, O. ficus indica, and O. streptacantha Lemaire. Research has focused on O. streptacantha Lemaire for its role in lowering blood glucose. Nopal has been used as a food in Mexico and the Southwestern part of the U.S. The leaves, flowers, stems, or fruit are used. Broiled stems or extracts of nopal have been used medicinally to lower blood glucose.^19,75 Some individuals have prepared blended shakes mixed with fruit.

Nopal has been used to treat diabetes and high cholesterol.^19,75 One extract has been used to reduce symptoms of hangover.¹⁰² Male patients have also used nopal to reduce symptoms of bladder fullness or urgency (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).¹⁰³