Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

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Alquitira
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Nopal, tuna, tuna de españa (Spanish); prickly pear (English).
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. [Cactaceae (Cactus Family)].
Note: In the Dominican Republic, the common name tuna de españa typically refers to Nopalea
cochenillifera (L.) Salm.-Dick. (synonym: Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.) which is the species most
frequently used medicinally. Additionally, the common name tuna can be used for any species of the
genus Opuntia (Liogier 2000). However, O. ficus-indica appears to be the species most widely available
in New York City.
DOMINICAN MEDICINAL USES
In ethnobotanical studies conducted in New York City, Dominican interview participants reported using
this edible food plant as a remedy for the following health conditions or effects (Balick et al. 2000, Yukes
et al. 2002-2003):
- Burns
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Skin abrasions
- Stomach disorders
- Wounds
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