Editing Cactus (section)

===Other uses===

Cacti have many other uses. They are used for human food and as fodder for animals, usually after burning off their spines.<ref name=ShetRanaPree11/> In addition to their use as psychoactive agents, some cacti are employed in [[herbal medicine]]. The practice of using various species of ''Opuntia'' in this way has spread from the Americas, where they naturally occur, to other regions where they grow, such as [[India]].{{sfnp|ps=none|Anderson|2001|pp=61–62}}

[[Cochineal]] is a red dye produced by a [[scale insect]] that lives on species of ''Opuntia''. Long used by the  peoples of Central and North America, demand fell rapidly when European manufacturers began to produce synthetic dyes in the middle of the 19th century. Commercial production has now increased following a rise in demand for natural dyes.<ref name=GoOaxaca/>

Cacti are used as construction materials. Living [[cactus fence]]s are employed as barricades around buildings to prevent people breaking in.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilmer |first=Maureen |title=Turn extra cactus into a living fence |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/home-garden/maureen-gilmer/2013/12/27/turn-extra-cactus-into-a-living-fence/4227827/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=The Desert Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Falkenthal |first=Gayle Lynn |date=2017-09-14 |title=Living Walls and Fences Are A Natural Choice |url=https://www.goodearthplants.com/living-walls-fences-natural-choice/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Good Earth Plants |language=en-US}}</ref> They also used to [[Pen (enclosure)|corral]] animals. The woody parts of cacti, such as ''[[Cereus repandus]]'' and ''[[Echinopsis atacamensis]]'', are used in buildings and in furniture. The frames of [[wattle and daub]] houses built by the [[Seri people]] of Mexico may use parts of the [[saguaro]] (''Carnegiea gigantea''). The very fine spines and hairs (trichomes) of some cacti were used as a source of fiber for filling pillows and in weaving.{{sfnp|ps=none|Anderson|2001|pp=69–72}}