nopal - fairlife

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and liver disease. Nopal is also a signifi cant source of protein,
vitamins, and minerals.
Although the results of animal studies and highly preliminary
trials in humans are somewhat contradictory, taken together they
suggest that nopal fruit and stems might have some benefi t for
diabetes.1–9 However, only properly designed and suffi ciently
large double-blind, placebo-controlled trials can tell us for sure
whether nopal is effective, and none have been reported for this
use of nopal. (For information on why such studies are essential,
see Why Does The Natural Pharmacist Rely on Double-blind
Studies?)
The only properly designed study of nopal involved use of the
cactus for treating hangover symptoms. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled
study of 64 people, use of an extract made from
the skin of nopal fruit signifi cantly reduced hangover symptoms
as compared to placebo.21 The greatest improvements were
seen in symptoms of nausea, loss of appetite, and dry mouth.
Overall, the rate of severe hangover symptoms was 50% lower
in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group. The
researchers involved in this study hypothesized that hangovers
are caused by infl ammation, and that the herb reduced infl ammation.
There is weak evidence that nopal fruit and stems might be helpful
for reducing cholesterol levels.10–14 Other studies suggest
that nopal stems and fruit might have anti-infl ammatory, pain-relieving,
and stomach-protective effects.15 Finally, test tube studies
suggest that the fl ower of the nopal cactus might be helpful
for prostate enlargement (BPH).16
Dosage
Neither the optimum dosage nor the most active species of nopal
cactus has been established. The one double-blind study noted
above used a special extract made from the skin of the fruit of
Opuntia fi cus indica.
http://www.thirdage.com/healthgate/fi les/21820.html