Cholla Stem / Prickly Pear Cactus
Aliases：Fengwei Le (Phoenix Tail Thorn)、Long She (Dragon Tongue)、Pinglü Cao、Lao Ya She (Old Crow Tongue)、Shenxian Zhang (Immortal Palm)、Ba Wang (Overlord)、Guanyin Zhang (Guanyin‘s Palm)、Guanyin Ci (Guanyin’s Thorn)、Ba Wang Shu (Overlord Tree)、Xian Ba Zhang (Immortal Palm)、Huo Yan (Flame)、Huo Zhang (Fire Palm)、Ci Ba Zhang (Thorny Palm)、Fan Hua (Foreign Flower)、Qilin Hua (Qilin Flower)、Foshou Ci (Buddha‘s Hand Thorn)、Bihuo Zan (Fire-avoiding Hairpin)
Xianrenzhang (Cactus Root and Stem) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It consists of the dried roots and stems of Opuntia dillenii (Ker‑Gawl.) Haw. and Opuntia monacantha Haw. (family Cactaceae). A
Efficacy & Actions
Move Qi and activate Blood, cool the Blood and stop bleeding, resolve Toxin and reduce swelling.
Indications
Indicated for stomach pain, abdominal masses (pi ju), dysentery, sore throat, lung heat cough, hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis, hematemesis, hemorrhoidal bleeding, sores, boils and furuncles, acute mastitis, mumps, tinea (fungal skin infection), snake and insect bites, scald, and frostbite.
Modern Pharmacology
This product has hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, lipid-lowering, anti-obesity, anti-gastric ulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-stress, and anti-aging effects, among others.
Ingredients
The stems contain quercetin-3-glucoside, resin, tartaric acid, and protein. The flowers contain isorhamnetin and quercetin glycosides, malic acid, succinic acid, etc. The fruits contain protein, as well as a polysaccharide composed of D-galactose and D-arabinose in a molecular ratio of 3:1. The seeds contain fatty oil.
Usage & Dosage
Internal use: 10–30 g in decoction; or 3–6 g after baking and grinding into powder. External use: Appropriate amount of fresh herb, crushed for topical application.
Contraindications
Try a small amount first; watch for allergies (rash, diarrhea). Avoid if you have spleen-stomach deficiency cold or cold-type asthma. Pregnant women should use with caution. Do not eat with spinach (risk of kidney stones). Recommended daily amount: about 100 g; excess may cause diarrhea.
Selected Formulas
1. For abdominal masses Take 15–30 g of cactus, mash into a pulp, then steam with sweet fermented rice wine (jiuniang) and consume. Meanwhile, take another适量 amount of cactus, stir‑fry with sweet wine until hot, and apply externally to the affected area. (From Guizhou Herbal Medicine) 2. For acute bacillary dysentery Take 30–60 g of fresh cactus, decoct in water, and drink the decoction. (From Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual of Guangzhou Military Command) 3. For stomach pain Grind cactus into a fine powder. Take 3 g (approximately 1 qian) each time, swallowed with warm boiled water. Alternatively, take 50 g (approximately 1 liang) of fresh cactus, chop finely, and stir‑fry with 100 g of beef. (From Guizhou Herbal Medicine) 4. For intestinal wind with hemorrhoidal bleeding Soak cactus and licorice (Gancao) in wine, then drink the infused wine in moderation. (From Yaoxing Kao – A Study of Medicinal Properties) 5. For hemorrhoidal bleeding Take 30 g of cactus and stew it with 250 g of beef. Consume both the meat and the soup. (From Jin Shi Bian Fang Jin Shi – Modern Interpretation of Herbal Formulas)
Daily Consumption
Salad: Cut into strips, blanch in salted water for 15 min, rinse. Mix with minced garlic, vinegar, light soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil. Stir-fry: Slice and quickly stir-fry with green pepper, chili, egg or meat slices. Soup/Stew: Add chunks to soup or stew with pork ribs, chicken. Juice: Blend peeled cactus with water; add honey or fruit to taste. Jam: Cook mashed pulp with sugar and lemon juice until thick.
Medicinal Parts
fleshy stem (usually fresh) 或 fresh fleshy stem
Selection & Storage
Form 1: Fresh Edible Cactus Pads (Tender Pads) Suitable for short‑term consumption. Choose tender pads that are 15–35 days old with a bright green color. Room temperature storage: Store in a cool, dry, well‑ventilated place. Can be kept for about 15 days. Refrigeration: Place in the refrigerator crisper drawer at about 4°C (39°F). Shelf life can be extended to 40 days. Form 2: Cactus Fruit (Prickly Pear) High water content and thin skin – very perishable. Consume as soon as possible. Short‑term storage: Spread out in a single layer (avoid stacking) in a cool, dry place. Lasts 3–5 days. For small amounts, refrigerate and eat within 3 days. Long‑term storage: Slice and dry in the sun, then store in a sealed container. The dried slices can be used for making tea. Form 3: Dried Medicinal Herb, Dried Products, and Powder Regardless of whether they are sun‑dried cactus pads or processed extracts, the key requirements are protection from moisture and oxidation. Core conditions: Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark, and low‑temperature environment. Packaging: For short‑term use, use well‑sealed glass jars or food‑grade plastic bags. For long‑term storage, use vacuum‑packing or aluminum foil bags, and store in opaque containers or away from light. Ventilation & shelf life: Place a small amount of food‑grade desiccant inside to help absorb moisture. Under proper storage conditions, dried products generally last 2 years; some extracts have a shelf life of 24 months. Avoid storing together with strongly odorous items to prevent odor transfer, and check regularly for moisture, mold, or insects.