No, no, no. It won't save you in the desert, it will give you a belly ache and diarrhea. It's very alkaline. But you can whap off a slice and put it on sore spots to relieve pain. Or hollow it out and use it for cooking--just add hot rocks. Or make a gruel from the ground seeds. Or cook the buds for a cabbage-like food. Or imbed the spines in hard pitch and use as an awl or p****yourself a tattoo or two. But DON'T DRINK IT. ver' bad