Has The Prickly Pear Oil Revolution Finally Arrived? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Be Sleeping On Malta’s Best Kept Secret
Cacti are everywhere in Malta; whether you look on the streets or on our windowsills, they are some of the sturdiest plants in our climate and surprisingly enough offer up a few potential health benefits we really ought to be more aware of.
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Here are six extremely useful and not-so-well-known uses and benefits to using żejt tax-xewk:
1. Prickly pear oil contains natural anti-inflammatory properties
While you’ll no doubt manage to score a few cuts and tears when handling the fruits before eating them, you should try and always keep a tincture of the oil in your first aid kit – they’re the perfect antiviral cleaner for small wounds, and rubbed over a bruise will see the blue nasty brighten within just a few days.
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The oil is also good for use with sunburn. While it won’t reduce the redness, it can reduce the pain experienced so the next time you turn into a baked lobster and can’t sleep, slather on some prickly pear oil and enjoy some super sweet smelling dreams.
2. Prickly pear oil won’t clog your pores
Skincare gurus will all run in fear of the word “oil”, but lucky for us, our local commodity is a non-comedogenic substance which basically means it’s, like, super thin and can permeate deep into your skin without causing you the worry of a potential breakout.
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3. The oil is unsaturated
For those of you who didn’t pay attention in secondary school science: that’s a good thing.
The acids in the fat absorb easily into the skin without leaving behind a nasty layer of grease.
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Also, because the acids in the oil help to moisturise your skin, you’ll notice the oil’s starting to tighten the collagen in your skin – something that helps promote anti-ageing effects in the beauty industry.
4. Prickly pear oil is super high in vitamins
Step aside argan oil, prickly pear oil contains about 150% more vitamin E than you do.
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It’s also pretty high in vitamin K which does wonders for those pesky bags under your eyes.
5. Antioxidants = super skin
In addition to the vitamins contained within prickly pear oil, the other antioxidants present in the oil so some serious work for your skin.
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Restoring elasticity, brightening complexion, and reducing dryness are among some of the top benefits to this gift from Mother Nature we don’t pay enough attention.
6. Prickly pear oil doesn’t judge skin types
This stuff really is a miracle offering. Dry skin? Prickly pear oil. Sensitive skin? Prickly pear oil.
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Skin that looks like prickly pear left out in the sun? Prickly, gosh-darned pear oil.
BONUS: Prickly pear flour is a legit thing and we shouldn’t be sleeping on it
For those of us who follow a holistic gluten-free diet, prickly pear flour is a great additive when swapped out for half the amount of regular flour in baking.
You literally only need to dry the seeds of the fruit, which can be done during the summer sun, and they can be ground up in a coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
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The flour is also great for things like coating meat for frying, bulking up sausage mixes and thickening soups while adding an unconventional but highly effective source of protein to your food. Not only is it good for you with all of the benefits from above, prickly pear oil and seeds are also very good for liver health and hangovers.