We are so blessed here in the Heart of Texas in San Antonio and the Hill Country to have some fabulous medicinal plants that grow wild in our deserts. The Prickly Pear, Aloe, Yucca and Agave are four plants that spring to mind. These four plants are incredibly versatile and are available to anyone that cares to go searching for them. The Native American Indians enjoyed the healing quality of these plants and put them to good use and we can take heed and follow in suit!
Most of us are familiar with the health benefits of the Aloe, you can slice open the leaves and scrape the gel off and keep it in a zip lock bag in the fridge to use anytime on your skin. It is an anti-irritant, emollient, can help with acne and scarring, chronic skin diseases, healing of wounds and of course sunburn. There is beta carotene, vitamin E and C are also present which helps with the elasticity and keeps skin hydrated and firm. This marvelous gel/juice can be ingested also. It helps with arthritis, rheumatism, stomach ulcers and can help improve digestion. Perfect for beauty and health inside and out, incorporating Aloe into your daily lifestyle can be key to staying youthful and “fresh-skinned”.
The Prickly Pear is a cactus that the Mexican culture is very proficient at utilizing. It is not only a medicinal plant, including both the nopals and the pads, but can be used as a fiber and even a dye can be squeezed from an insect that thrives on it! It is very helpful in Texas where it can help to control herd grazing for the cowboys and cowgirls out there. Type 2 diabetes can be helped with the consumption of the pads, the pectin lowers blood glucose by decreasing the absorption of sugar into the stomach and intestine. There is high dietary fiber, vitamin C content of 23% and magnesium of 21%. Cholesterol levels can be decreased and helps to fight viruses in the body. Obesity, alcohol hangover, colitis and diarrhea are just a few more benefits not to mention the juice can help heal wounds similar to the Aloe. The fruit is often used to make candy and juice, a jelly is also sometimes created. The fruit, flowers, pads and young stems are all edible!
The Yucca is another of our beautiful desert plants. Yucca can help with arthritis and hypertension, a reduction in blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. The roots contain the active compound steroidal saponin and is best dried after harvesting. The Yucca root was/is popular with the Native American Indians. One slices the dried root and boils in water for tea for anti-inflammation, antirheumatic, a laxative and as a blood purifier. The dried root can also be pounded into a poultice and applied to skin inflammations, sores and to stop bleeding. It is a Soapweed Yucca and can make a nice lather for washing hair and body and is part of the agave family (Agavaceae). The leaf juice can be used as a poison for arrow tips and to stupefy corralled fish to make easy catching!
Speaking of Agave, one can eat the flowers, leaves, stalks and the sap. The stalks, when roasted, taste like sugarcane. You may be familiar with agave syrup or nectar. It is a vitamin and mineral filled sweetener instead of basic white sugar. A tincture and tea from the leaf can help with arthritic joints. Once again, the Native American Indians knew how to utilize this plant. The Navajo in particular would bake the stalks and pound into an edible paste, store for winter and also squeeze juice to make a beverage. The sharp leafed tips would make good sewing needles and basketry awls.
It is all very well and good to purchase supplements and take your vitamins however when there is such a plethora of Texan desert plants that can benefit our health inside and out, let’s incorporate these beauties naturally and learn how to use the whole plant!
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Margaret Elizabeth Johnston is a Naturopathic Educator and Holistic Practitioner. She is also a Botanical Illustrator and Artist and enjoys painting medicinal plants in a unique and interesting way to interest people in Holistic Health. She will be showing some new works “Art in the Hills” in New Braunfels at the New Braunfels Art League if you would like to meet her and learn more about medicinal plants and living a holistic lifestyle. www.mejcreations.com
