Aside from its culinary uses and being decorative fauna, there is actual research which suggests that chemicals in nopal can actually help reduce the effects of alcohol hangover.
In a study reported by Scientific American, a group of healthy volunteers consumed an extract of prickly pear cactus prior to drinking alcohol. Compared to those who took a placebo, those who took the cactus experienced noticeably less nausea, dry mouth, and loss of appetite.
Further, researchers found that recipients of the cactus concoction had lower levels of C-reactive protein, associated with inflammation in the body.
Although prickly pear is a popular ornamental plant, it's not necessary to grow your own or pilfer some from your neighbor's yard and run it through your blender. It does exist in tablet, capsule, even oil and syrup forms.
Yet another example of nature's fascinating repertoire of flora that science discovers has the potential to ease human suffering, even the self-inflicted kind. 🙂
