Prickly pear is a fantastic herb + food
Did you know prickly pear's ability to draw out venom/debris can be potentially life saving? It's an herb I would never want to be without for medicine. In the warm weather, its pads store water and become plump and firm and juicy inside. If someone in my family were to be bitten by a snake, the first two things I would do would be to grab my bottle of echinacea root tincture and slice off a prickly pear pad. The spines need to be removed, and you want to be especially careful of the fine hairs, called glochids, which are very painful and hard to see/remove once embedded in skin. Those are easily burnt off by holding the pad with tongs over a flame. Then slice the pad down the middle, so you have two ovals with exposed gel in the middle. Cut to size of wound and apply gel side to skin, holding on with an elasticized or ace bandage. If you want to read an amazing story of how this has been used for remarkable recovery from rattlesnake bite, check out herbalist Michael Cottingham's blog and the story of Soup the dog.
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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled from reputable herbalists and natural care professionals. It is intended for educational purposes only.ā€‹ ā€‹These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.This information is not intended as medical advice, nor is it intended to prevent, diagnose,ā€‹ ā€‹treat, or cure any disease. Seek professional medical care for health concerns.
