Rising up in majesty from the hot desert are plants that might be the answer to preventing a host of illnesses and diseases.

The Prickly Pear Cactus, also known as the Opuntia, or the Nopal or Paddle cactus, is a natural anti-oxidant and natural anti-inflammatory. People eat the plant's pads and its flowers.

The blooms, or figs, as they are called, are consumed, along with the pads - or stems. In both cases, the poky spines must be removed, which can be a laborious process. The tiny spines can cause all kinds of problems if they are ingested.

The figs are used to make candles, but also eaten and used in beverages.

Once the prickly spines are removed, the plant is eaten much like a vegetable. It can be steamed, boiled, grilled, or fried.

The Prickly Pear cactus is a native of Mexico and traditionally grows rampantly in the western hemisphere, but nowadays you can find the plant around the world. It is believed that Spanish explorers recognized the value of the plant as both a food and medicine and brought it back to Europe.

In fact, the use of the plant as both a food and medicine is believed to date back as far as the times of the Aztecs.

The plant is viewed as a medicine as it contains a special antioxidant property called betalains, which are most heavily concentrated in the plant's fruits, or figs. These betalains are natural cancer fighters.

Because the plant is viewed as both a natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, it has become sought after in recent years.

Nopalea Juice, which is made from the plant, is especially popular because it is an easy way to get the benefits of the cactus without hunting it down in a specialty market and then spending time removing the pesky spines.

People who drink the juice say they have experienced astonishing health benefits ranging from relief of migraines to help with diabetes. In addition, many people who drink the juice on a regular basis say that they have experienced an overall boost in energy and a general feeling of wellness.

The prickly pear cactus is known grown and harvested around the world as both as a food and medicine.

In addition, some uses the fruit as an intoxicant.

This is ironic, as Dr. Mehmet Oz has raved about the plant's ability to relieve the symptoms of a hangover. On one episode of his television show, he spoke of the juice of the cactus and how it could help with the pesky side effects of a hangover. He told comedian Jimmy Fallon he should drink some.

In addition, Oz has talked about how the cactus is so fibrous in nature that it could help people with diabetes. It can act as a natural way to regulate the flow of sugar into the blood stream.

People around the world are enjoying the taste of the juice, but also experiencing boosts in health as a result of a daily regimen that includes Nopalea Juice.