1. Alias
Pumpkin kernels, white melon seeds, golden melon rice, nest melon seeds.
2. Plant morphology
Annual creeping herb with a stem length of 2-5 meters. Rooting in the common section. Dense with white bristles. Single leaf mutualism; The petiole is thick and robust, measuring 8-19 centimeters in length and covered with bristles; The leaves are broadly ovate or ovate in shape, with 5 horns or 5 shallow slits, measuring 12-25 cm in length and 20-30 cm in width. The tips are pointed, and the base is deeply heart-shaped. The upper part is green, and the lower part is light green. Both sides are covered with bristles and hairs, and the edges have small and dense fine teeth. The tendrils are slightly thick and hairy, with 3-5 strands. Flowers are unisexual, monoecious, male flowers are solitary, sepals are bell shaped, 5-6 mm long, lobes are strip-shaped, 10-15 mm long, covered with soft hairs, upper part expands into leaf like, corolla is yellow, bell shaped, about 8 cm long, 5 lobes, edge of lobes is rolled back, stamens are 3, filaments are glandular, 5-8 mm long, and calyx is bent; The female flower is solitary, with a 1-chamber ovary, short stamen, 3-stigma, swollen, 2-lobed tip, thick and sturdy peduncle with grooves, 5-7 cm long, and the stem expands into a trumpet shape. Gouguo has various shapes and often has longitudinal grooves on the outside. The seeds are mostly ovate or oblong in shape, gray white in color. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
3. Origin distribution
Widely cultivated throughout the country.
4. Harvesting and processing
When eating pumpkin in summer and autumn, collect mature seeds, remove the pulp film, wash them, and dry them in the sun.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
The seeds are flattened and round, measuring 1.2-1.8 centimeters in length and 0.7-1 centimeters in width. The surface is pale yellow white to light yellow, with flat and slightly raised edges on both sides. The edges are slightly angular, with one end slightly pointed and a bead hole at the tip. The navel is slightly raised or not obvious. Excluding the seed coat, there is a yellow green membranous endosperm. Two cotyledons, yellow, thick, oily. The aroma is slightly fragrant and the taste is slightly sweet.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Flat in nature, sweet in taste. Returning to the colon meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Insecticide, lactation, diuresis, and swelling reduction. Belonging to the subcategory of diuretics and diuretics, it is a diuretic and anti-inflammatory drug.
8. Clinical application
Oral administration: decoction, 30-60 grams; Grind or make emulsions. For external use: appropriate amount, boil in water, smoke and wash. Indications include tapeworm, roundworm, schistosomiasis, hookworm, pinworm disease, postpartum milk deficiency, postpartum hand and foot edema, pertussis, and hemorrhoids.
9. Pharmacological research
It has functions such as deworming, anti schistosomiasis, boosting blood pressure, stimulating the respiratory center, and inhibiting smooth muscle contraction in the ileum.
10. Chemical composition
This product mainly contains linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, triglycerides, phosphatidylhexanolamine, pumpkin seed amino acid and other ingredients.
11. Usage taboos
People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should avoid taking it.
12. Compatibility prescription
① Treating pediatric roundworms: 30g pumpkin seeds, 30g chive leaves, 60g water bamboo juice. Take it with boiling water. (Hunan Pharmaceutical Journal)
② Postpartum milk deficiency: 60 grams of pumpkin seeds. At the end of the grinding process, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar and rinse with boiling water. (Qingdao Herbal Medicine Handbook)
③ Treatment of postpartum edema of hands and feet, diabetes: 30g pumpkin seeds. Stir fry until cooked, then boil in water and take orally. (Food, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Toilet Formula)
④ Treatment of internal hemorrhoids: 1000g pumpkin seeds, boil in water and smoke. Smoked twice a day for several consecutive days. (Lingnan Herbal Medicine Chronicles)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.