{"id":6725,"date":"2024-09-05T13:19:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T13:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/axolotlbeauty.com\/2024\/09\/05\/prickly-pear-a-mexican-treasure-with-invaluable-skin-care-benefits\/"},"modified":"2024-09-08T06:49:20","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T06:49:20","slug":"prickly-pear-a-mexican-treasure-with-invaluable-skin-care-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/axolotlbeauty.com\/en\/2024\/09\/05\/prickly-pear-a-mexican-treasure-with-invaluable-skin-care-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Prickly Pear: A Mexican Treasure with Invaluable Skin Care Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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In a previous article dedicated to nopal, Mexico’s green gold, I spoke of its many virtues.\nToday, I’d like to devote this article to its fruit, “The Tunas”. <\/p>\n\n

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Ethnobotany and Traditional Use<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Known in France as the prickly pear, the “tuna” is the fruit of the nopal, a cactus belonging to the Opuntia<\/em> genus.\nNative to Mexico, this plant plays a central role in Mexican history and culture.\nPre-Columbian civilizations, such as the Aztecs, saw the prickly pear not only as an essential food source, but also as a sacred symbol. <\/p>\n\n

The prickly pear has been eaten for millennia, both for its juicy fruit and for its nutrient-rich, edible snacks.\nThe Aztecs called this fruit “nochtli”, and the cactus itself was revered, so much so that it features in the myth of the founding of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire.\nThis myth, illustrated by an eagle perched on a nopal devouring a snake, is a symbol that can still be found today on the Mexican flag. <\/p>\n\n

In the 16th century, with the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the prickly pear was introduced to Europe and other parts of the world.\nIt quickly adapted to Mediterranean and North African environments, where it became an integral part of local agriculture. <\/p>\n\n

Cosmetic benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Prickly pear seed oil, often referred to as “liquid gold”, is particularly sought-after in the cosmetics industry.\nRich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, phytosterols and antioxidants superior to Argan oil, this oil offers numerous benefits for the skin. <\/p>\n\n