Pumpkin Plant: The Surprising Health Benefits You Need to Know

Many cultivated varieties of the pumpkin plant render fruit weighing from half a kilogram to more than fifty.

Pumpkin Plant Scientific Facts

1. Similar species: Curcubita melopepo L., Curcubita ovifera L., Curcubita verrucose L., Curcubita maxima Duch.
2. Scientific synonyms: Cucurbita pepo L.
3. Other names: Field Pumpkin.
4. French: Citrouille
5. Spanish: Calabacera, zapallo.
6. Environment: Some varieties are native to the Middle East, and others are native to America. They grow in humid, hot climate soils and are currently cultivated worldwide.
7. Description: This Annual plant in the Cucurbitaceae family has a climbing or creeping stem up to 8 m high. It has large leaves covered by urticant hairs and exuberant yellow flowers.
8. Parts of the plant used medicinally: The fruit (seeds and flesh).

Healing Properties and Indications

The pumpkin plant seeds, especially the germ, contain up to thirty-five percent oil, proteins rich in essential amino acids, and cucurbitacin. This active component presents the following properties and indications:

1. Antiprostatic. The most frequent prostate affliction, adenoma (benign tumor), manifests itself in mature aged men through loss of strength in urinating, pollakiuria (an urge to urinate often in only small amounts), especially at night and after traveling seated, and in severe cases, complete inability to urinate.
   
   Cucurbitacin in pumpkin seeds acts mainly on the prostate, reducing inflammation and slowing hypertrophy (enlargement). This is because cucurbitacin blocks the division of glandular prostate cells (antimitotic properties), thus retarding the enlargement of this vital gland.
   
   However, one has to remember that while pumpkin plant seeds can hinder prostate enlargement and thus alleviate the discomforts mentioned above, they can never reduce the already-formed excessive growth.
2. Urinary anti-inflammatory. The active component of pumpkin seeds also acts on the urinary bladder, reducing inflammation and relaxing it. Hence, pumpkin seeds are recommended for cystitis, urinary infection, urinary incontinence, cystocele (protrusion of the urinary bladder), and neurogenic urinary bladder (an irritation that manifests via a constant urge to urinate).
3. Vermifuge. Cucurbitacin detaches the head of taeniae (tapeworms) from the intestine walls. It is also effective against other intestinal parasites, such as ascaridae. Once the worm is detached, a purgative substance must be taken to promote the expulsion of parasites.
   
   This effective vermifuge action of pumpkin seeds is risk-free. Therefore, pumpkin seeds are ideal for children with intestinal parasites, especially tapeworms or roundworms.

The flesh of the pumpkin plant, roasted or boiled, is rich in sugars (carbohydrates). It has soothing, mild diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties on the digestive system. It is therefore recommended for people suffering from the following afflictions:

1. Digestive disorders, such as dyspepsia, stomach acidity, constipation, and intestinal fermentation or putrefaction.
2. Hemorrhoids, because of their soothing and mild laxative properties.
3. Renal disorders (always as a complementary treatment) include renal insufficiency, nephritis or glomerulonephritis, edema (retention of fluids), and kidney stones.

Pumpkin Seeds

For centuries, pumpkin seeds have been used to eliminate parasites from the intestines and large bowels. These seeds are from the pumpkins harvested in hundreds of gardens in the fall. The seeds are plentiful. You can consume large pumpkin seeds as a safe worm expeller (anthelmintic). It is a safe remedy for both adults and children. The seeds can also be used to treat irritable bladder and prostate issues.

In external applications, pumpkin seed oil is used to heal chapped skin, wounds, and burns.

NOTE: Be careful with tapeworms. Make sure that the entire worm is ejected.

Crush seven to fourteen ounces of seeds for children and up to twenty-five ounces for adults; stir into your favorite fruit juice to make a mashed concoction to be eaten. After two to three hours, take castor oil to expel the worms.

How to use Pumpkin Plant

1. The SEEDS can be taken when fresh, dry, or cooked, in 50-100 g, two or three times a day.
2. When used to combat intestinal parasites, we recommend following this method:
   
   – Fast for twelve hours (consuming only water) from the evening before starting the treatment.
   
   – Weigh 200-400 g of seeds with rind (adults can take up to 800 g). Once peeled, mash them in a mortar. Some sugar can be added to the resulting paste.
   
   Distribute the paste into three equal portions for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Eat only carrots, which also have antihelmintic properties, throughout the day.
   
   – One hour after the third meal, administer a purgative substance (for instance, tinnevelly senna, cascara sagrada infusions, a couple of spoonfuls of castor bean oil, or fruit salts).
   
   – Observe feces. If parasites have not been expelled, repeat the process in two or three days.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 605, 606. Print.
2. Vance Ferrell Harold M. Cherne, M.D. The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia [Book]. – Altamont, TN: Harvestime Books, 2010. – Vol. Seventh Edition: 7: pp. 176.
3. Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pumpkin-nutrition-review
4. PharmEasy: https://pharmeasy.in/blog/health-benefits-of-pumpkin-seeds/
5. Be Bodywise: https://bebodywise.com/blog/pumpkin-leaves/