Am I nuts?
Re: Am I nuts?
I am sure the placebo-effect is of use here. So it works, even if a bit for only some of the believers. They don't give you a percentage of those that will / might / can benefit from it, surprisingly. Even 0.01% improvement is still a result...
Re: Am I nuts?
I always thought humans were more dangerous to cacti than cacti are dangerous to humans, just my opinion.
There is no cactus you can't eat, but you just might regret it if you eat the wrong one.
Re: Am I nuts?
Most of us get used to being stuck with spines when handling or repotting cacti, which usually if they break off can be seen and fished out with a needle or tweezers. We all learn to be aware of glochids on the Opuntia's though. They are like little barbed hairs, rather like nettle stings but without the toxins and almost invisible when they break off in the skin and itch or produce little raised spots where they are still embedded.
A microsope picture of them here:-
http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dic ... ochids.htm
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/30454/view
A quote from the following link:-
"If the glochidia are not removed, a response may ensue that eventuates in granulomatous dermatitis. Within 24 to 72 hours there is the appearance of 2- to 5-mm, asymptomatic, domed, glistening papules, sometimes erythematous, with a central pin-point-sized black dot at the site of the injury. There may be groups of these papules. Vesicles and pustules and even focal ulceration may also occur. In some instances, diagnosis can be made easily by passing the fingers over the affected area and by feeling the embedded glochidia.
Left untreated, these lesions may last as long as 9 months. A biopsy of the later lesions reveals granuloma formation with plant material embedded in the dermis. The fragments of the barbed bristles gave strongly positive reactions with PAS. The presence of a cactus granuloma lesion is often followed by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glochid
If your doctor or specialist has not come across the problem before It might be a good idea to print out the above link and take a copy with you.
A microsope picture of them here:-
http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dic ... ochids.htm
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/30454/view
A quote from the following link:-
"If the glochidia are not removed, a response may ensue that eventuates in granulomatous dermatitis. Within 24 to 72 hours there is the appearance of 2- to 5-mm, asymptomatic, domed, glistening papules, sometimes erythematous, with a central pin-point-sized black dot at the site of the injury. There may be groups of these papules. Vesicles and pustules and even focal ulceration may also occur. In some instances, diagnosis can be made easily by passing the fingers over the affected area and by feeling the embedded glochidia.
Left untreated, these lesions may last as long as 9 months. A biopsy of the later lesions reveals granuloma formation with plant material embedded in the dermis. The fragments of the barbed bristles gave strongly positive reactions with PAS. The presence of a cactus granuloma lesion is often followed by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glochid
If your doctor or specialist has not come across the problem before It might be a good idea to print out the above link and take a copy with you.
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Re: Am I nuts?
The "Sidestep Headaches with a Cactus" photo quotes the Institute of Geobiology in Switzerland. As far as I can tell, this isn't a very highly regarded organisation. If it exists at all..
Re: Am I nuts?
Perhaps you are supposed to use the spines for acupuncture in order to to stop headaches? At least the pain would take your mind off the headache!