Pumpkin

The common Pumpkin or squash belongs to the plant family Cucurbitaceae. It is an annual creeping plant with large, coarse orbicular leaves which have five or more points and a deep sinus at the base. The male and female flowers are located separately on the same plant. They are large, deep yellow and bell-shaped. The fruits may vary in shape but are mostly round or oval, large, fleshy, and containing numerous flat white seeds.



MEDICINAL USE:
*Superficial burns, Erysipelas-a contagious infection of the skin, and also for warts.
*Pneumonia.
*Otitis or ear infection.
*Arthritis, urinary problems and piles.
*Oedema.
*Uterine haemorrhage.
*Dysentery, diarrhoea and malaria.
*Digestion, good for kidneys and bladder.
*Vermifuge or a substance that kills worms in the body.
*Stomachache and gas problems.
*Nausea, vomiting and morning sickness in pregnant women.
*Infection of the prostate gland.

HOW TO USE:
*The freshly crushed leaves of the pumpkin are used for superficial burns, erysipelas, and for curing
  warts.
*The leaf stalk, fried in olive oil and applied over the chest, is good in cases of pneumonia.
*The flowers, slightly boiled, and applied to the ears are a good remedy for otitis or ear infection.
*The pulp of the fruit is used for arthritis. It is also good for the liver, kidneys, bowels, urinary
  problems, and has proved to be good for haemorrhoids or piles.
*Eaten raw, the ripe pumpkin is good for dropsy or oedema.
*The young shoots, bruised and boiled, make a good tea for uterine haemorrhage. For this, take 2 or 3
  cups a day.
*The same tea, with some ground seeds, is used for dysentery, diarrhoea, and malaria.
*The seeds aid in digestion, and are good for the kidneys and bladder.
*In cases of intestinal worms, the seeds are an excellent vermifuge. Before eating a meal, take 60 to
  80 grams of  husked seeds as a good remedy.
*The same seeds are used to avoid stomachache and gas problems. Radish seeds can be combined
  with it to make it more effective. A dose of 2 spoonfuls of castor oil should follow 2 hours
  thereafter. For children the dose should be less.
*Unripe seeds are used to control nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness in pregnant women.
*The roasted ripe seeds are recommended for prostatitis, which is the infection of the prostate gland.

PARTS USED:
*The whole plant.

DOSE:
As recommended above.

Normal Dosage For:

Adults: 4 or 5 cups a day.
Aged 6 to 9 years: 2 cups a day
Aged 2 to 5 years: 1 cup a day
1 to 2 years: 1/2 cup a day
Below 1 year: 1/4 or less cup a day

A Useful Table for Quick Measurements:
1 tbsp = 5 grams (green herb)
1 dessertspoon = 2 grams (dry herb)
1 teaspoon = 25 drops
1 cup = 16 tbsp


1 litre = 7 or 8 cups