Nopal mucilage is rich in vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial to our health and skin, but how do you extract it? The process is very easy and you can extract a lot from just one cladode (pad). This is how I extracted it.
Cut pad from the plant. I used a pad that had been cut 3 months ago and left outside during the winter. Typically, I would use a newer pad (not one cut 3 months ago), but this is all I had available at the time.
Remove the stickers from the pad. Since the pad I used was 3 months old, it was hard taking the stickers off. The skin had toughed up during the winter, but you shouldn’t have this problem if you use a younger freshly cut pad.
Cut into small cubes and place in a container.
Add distilled water (room temperature) making sure the cubed nopal is submerged.
Place in a corner and let sit for 24-48 hours. Check back every 24 hours and make sure the nopal is still fully submerged. If it is not, add more water (room temperature) until it is fully covered.
After 24-48 hours use a colander to strain the mucilage into a clean container. I was successful using a plastic colander vs metal. Use a spoon to get all the mucilage out.
DONE!!!
What to do with the mucilage: After it is extracted you should refrigerate unless you use for skincare products where you would add preservatives. The mucilage can be used to make skincare products like lotion, toners, shampoos, soaps, and other cosmetics. It can also be consumed, some people like to make smoothies with it. Lastly, you can use it to treat sunburns or cool off after a hot day outside – just rub it on your skin.
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