Through his work as physician, Mangialavori discovered that the Cactaceae are uniquely suitable to help certain patients face their final moments of life with grace and dignity. Although too ill to hope for cure, these patients are able to feel better physically as well as resolve emotional issues and achieve a deeper appreciation of life. Mangialavori gives us a new perspective on such homeopathic medicines as Cactus grandiflorus, and Cereus bonplandii and paints a fuller picture of some of the Cactaceae remedies that are wholly under-represented in our literature such as Cereus serpentinus, Opuntia vulgaris, Opuntia alba spina, and (not a Cactaceae, but sharing the fundamental themes) Agave americana.