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Pumpkin (Cucurbita) Seeds
Numerous species of
the Cucurbita genus are
native to North America. Their
fruits (mostly squash) have long
been used for food, and their seeds
for healing. Well-known Cucurbita
species include autumn squash,
butternut squash, China squash,
crookneck squash, summer squash, and
the famous Halloween squash and
adornment: the pumpkin (C. pepo).
All Cucurbita
plants are relatively large and grow
on vinelike stems, producing yellow
flowers and flattened, oval seeds.
Many varieties are cultivated around
the world. In health-food stores,
cucurbita seeds are often sold as
pumpkin seeds.
The seeds of
cucurbita plants are particularly
nutrient-dense, providing notable
stores of protein, fiber, iron,
copper, magnesium, manganese, and
phosphorous, as well as the amino
acids arginine and glutamic acid.
The seeds also contain calcium,
potassium, zinc, selenium, folate,
and niacin.
The seeds of
certain Cucurbita varieties,
including the pumpkin, contain
linolenic acid, a nutrient believed
to help prevent hardening of the
arteries.
Eating a ground-up
mixture of the seeds--or simply
snacking on a small handful of seeds
once or twice a day--can calm the
irritated and overactive bladder
occasionally associated with
bedwetting. Germany’s Commission E
has approved using pumpkin seeds for
bedwetting and other bladder
problems.
Specifically,
cucurbita seeds may help to:
Eradicate
intestinal parasites, such as
tapeworms and roundworms.
Perhaps the most
enduring folk use for cucurbita
seeds is to eliminate intestinal
parasites, a use largely explained
by the eventual discovery of an
unusual amino acid called cucurbitin
in the seeds. This active ingredient
is believed to paralyze the worms
over time, forcing them to loose
their grip and get expelled from the
body.
To confuse
matters, however, the concentration
of cucurbitin in Cucurbita
plants varies widely, which may
explain why some herbalists have had
positive experiences in treating
intestinal parasites with the seeds
while others have not.
Prevent and
relieve symptoms of prostate
enlargement.
Several years ago, researchers noted
that men who live in countries where
cucurbita seeds are a regular part
of the diet suffer lower rates of
prostate problems. And many men who
take on a therapeutic regimen of
eating cucurbita seeds say that
their symptoms of prostate
enlargement have improved.
The use of
cucurbita seeds for prostate
symptoms can be traced back to
Native American healers. Today, a
number of European countries
(including Germany) approve of their
use for lessening urination problems
in men with early stage (I or II)
benign prostate enlargement,
medically known as benign prostate
hyperplasia or BPH. The exact
mechanism for the seeds'
effectiveness is uncertain but it
may involve a fatty oil in the seeds
that promotes urine flow. (The fatty
oil appears to block the action of
the hormone dihydrotestosterone on
the prostate gland).
In one of the few
clinical trials on cucurbita seeds
(pumpkin specifically) for BPH,
significant improvements in such
symptoms as post-void dribbling,
weak urine flow, and time spent
urinating were reported in many of
the participants. Fifty-three men
with BPH took part in this
three-month, double-blind study
completed in 1990.
Preliminary
findings also indicate that the
seeds may reduce hormonal damage to
prostate cells, possibly reducing
the future risk of developing
prostate cancer.
Special tips:
--Cucurbita seeds
are sold in the shell and shelled,
roasted and raw. They can be found
in health-food stores and some
supermarkets.
--The oil in
cucurbita seeds can easily go
rancid, so store them in the
refrigerator or freezer and be sure
to discard them by the date
indicated on the package.
For anti-worm
actions:
Make an emulsion by grinding up the
seeds, mixing them with some sugar
(or honey) and some milk (or water).
Sip this mixture in three daily
doses, ingesting a total of about 2
ounces of the emulsion.
Alternatively, make a tea with the
ground seeds by infusing them in hot
water; allow the brew to cool
slightly before straining and
sipping. Don't take more than 16
ounces at one time.
For preventing
and treating prostate enlargement
(in early stages):
Chew a handful of cucurbita seeds
every day.
You can "harvest" your own cucurbita seeds from fresh
pumpkins or other squash, then roast
the seeds on an oiled baking sheet
in a slow oven until crisp.
There are no known drug or nutrient interactions
associated with cucurbita seeds.
There are no known side effects associated with the use
of cucurbita seeds.
If you are experiencing bothersome or troubling
symptoms of possible prostate
enlargement (weak urine flow,
frequency, post-void dribbling and
backwash, for example), see your
doctor.
Keep in mind that
although the seeds may relieve the
symptoms of an enlarged prostate,
they have not been proven to
actually reduce the size of this
gland.
If you suspect
that you have intestinal parasites
of any kind, consult your doctor to
confirm the diagnosis. Then you can
discuss your desire to treat the
condition with cucurbita seeds.
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