Medicinal Uses of the Cactus Plant You May Not Know

Cactus is a familiar ornamental plant often seen in many households. Most people value it for its unique appearance and ability to thrive with little care. However, few know that cactus also has a long history of being used in traditional medicine. In this article, MEDLATEC will guide you through the biological features, medicinal properties, and folk remedies made from cactus.

1. Biological Characteristics of the Cactus Plant

The cactus (also known or in traditional medicine) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Depending on the species, it can reach a height of 7–8 meters, with thick, fleshy branches. There are more than 2,000 cactus species worldwide, but the most common types used medicinally in Vietnam are the prickly pear cactus and the three-ribbed cactus 

Cactus plants usually have few leaves. The leaves are small and quickly transform into spines. Their stalks are short and oval-shaped, while veins grow along the edges of the branches. Cactus flowers grow in clusters and usually form umbrella-shaped groups with a diameter of around 1 cm.

Two species commonly used in folk medicine are:

• Three-ribbed cactus: Has stems with three very distinct ridges, growing 1–3 meters tall. The leaves are tiny and sprout along the ridges. The flowers are yellow, while the fruits are green when young.

• Prickly pear cactus: Flat, pad-shaped stems resembling rabbit ears, branching out with numerous spines. The fruits are green when unripe and turn reddish-pink when mature.

2. Chemical Components and Healing Properties

Modern research has identified several bioactive compounds in cactus with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-relieving effects. These include:
friedelan-3a-ol, β-amyrin, citric acid, flavonoids, fumaric acid, taraxerol, α-euphorbol, cuphol, and γ-euphorbol, among others.

In traditional medicine, cactus is considered cold in nature, bitter in taste, and containing certain toxic elements. Each part of the plant serves a different purpose:

• Stems: Used for gout pain, swelling, skin abscesses, and constipation.

• Leaves: Helpful for urinary retention, skin boils, heat reduction, toxin elimination, and digestive blockage.

• Sap (latex): Applied for diarrhea, rheumatism, ascites, cirrhosis, warts, toothache, itchy skin, and fungal infections.

3. Folk Remedies Using Cactus

3.1. Treating Back Pain

With prickly pear cactus:

• Method 1:
  Prepare 1–2 cactus pads, remove the spines, wash thoroughly, cut into small pieces, and crush. Heat together with 100g of coarse salt in a pan, then wrap the mixture in a clean cloth. Apply directly to the painful area of the back.

• Method 2:
  Prepare 4 cactus pads, remove the spines, wash, and grill until hot. Wrap in cloth and place on the back. Once the pads cool, reheat and reapply repeatedly for 30 minutes. Do this twice daily for optimal results.

With three-ribbed cactus:

• Method 1:
  Use 3 young cactus shoots and 1 snakehead fish. Remove spines from the cactus, wash, and slice thinly. Rub with salt, rinse again to remove the latex. Clean and gut the fish, then cook it together with the cactus in a pot with 1 cup of water for about 15 minutes. Eat once daily for 5 days.

• Method 2:
  Slice medium-aged cactus stems after removing spines, dry them under the sun, roast until golden, and store. Each day, boil with 3 cups of water until reduced to 1 cup. Drink before bedtime for two weeks.

3.2. Treating Toothache

Grill a cactus branch (with spines removed) until soft, pound into a paste, remove fibers, and mix with a pinch of salt. Apply to the aching tooth and keep your mouth closed for 10 minutes. Spit out any saliva produced and rinse thoroughly with clean water afterward.

3.3. Treating Skin Infections and Boils

Grill cactus stems (spines removed) until slightly browned, let cool, crush into a paste, and apply directly to inflamed skin areas or boils. The heat combined with cactus sap helps reduce swelling and speed up pus drainage.

4. Important Precautions When Using Cactus as Medicine

Although cactus can be beneficial, it also contains toxins that may cause side effects if used incorrectly. Some important notes include:

• Avoid letting cactus latex come into contact with the skin or eyes, as it may cause irritation or burns.

• Always wash cactus thoroughly and remove the latex before cooking or decocting it, since the sap can cause poisoning symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and irritation of the mucous membranes.

• Only specific types of cactus (three-ribbed and prickly pear) are recommended for medicinal use.

• When applying grilled cactus pads to the skin, check the temperature carefully to prevent burns.

• Do not use cactus remedies for extended periods, as overuse can lead to digestive problems and mucous irritation.

• Select fleshy, fresh cactus stems with thick pads for higher levels of active compounds.

• Cactus remedies are not suitable for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers.

Conclusion

Cactus is not only an ornamental plant but also a valuable medicinal herb in folk remedies. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and pain-relieving properties, cactus has been traditionally used to treat conditions ranging from back pain and toothache to boils and skin infections. However, due to its toxic sap, cactus must be used with great care. For safety, patients should only use cactus under the guidance of experienced traditional medicine practitioners, who can provide proper dosage and preparation methods.

By understanding both its healing potential and possible risks, we can make more informed and cautious use of cactus in daily health care.