What are the functions, indications and side effects of pumpkin seeds?

We all know that pumpkin seeds have certain effects, but what are the side effects of pumpkin seeds?

【Pumpkin seeds functions and indications】

Treat tapeworms, roundworms, postpartum swelling of hands and feet, whooping cough, and hemorrhoids.

① "Modern Practical Chinese Medicine": "Expel tapeworms."

② "Anhui Medicinal Materials": "Can kill roundworms."

③ "Chinese Medicinal Plants Illustrated Guide": "Fry and then decoct to treat postpartum edema of the hands and feet and sugar stool disease."

[Usage and dosage of pumpkin seeds]

Internal use: decoction, 1-2 liang; grind into powder or make into emulsion. External use: decoction for fumigation and washing.

【Clinical Application】

①Treatment of schistosomiasis

The clinical trial of pumpkin seeds to treat schistosomiasis has a certain effect. After treatment, the stool was reexamined and some patients turned negative. It has a good antipyretic effect on acute cases. According to 73 cases, 89% of the patients began to reduce their body temperature after taking the medicine for 1 to 5 days, 11% began to reduce fever after 6 to 14 days, and the body temperature dropped to normal 6 to 34 days after taking the medicine; after the course of treatment, some cases showed different degrees of improvement in hepatosplenomegaly, blood count, liver function, electrocardiogram and other changes. However, there was no significant change in the condition of chronic cases. Commonly used preparations: 1. Degreased powder: 240 to 300 grams per day, half the dose for children under 10 years old, and 160 to 200 grams for children aged 10 to 16 years old. 2. Water extract: Each milliliter is equivalent to 4 grams of raw pumpkin seeds. Acute cases use 180 milliliters per day, and chronic cases take 60 milliliters per sweep. The dosage for children is calculated according to the degreased powder. A course of treatment is 30 days. Side effects: Diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite and other reactions may occur in the early stage of medication, which are mild and disappear soon. The extract reaction is milder than the powder. In the treatment, the jaundice index of 3 patients in the late stage increased after taking the medicine, 2 cases decreased after stopping the medicine, and 1 case continued to increase and developed hepatic coma. Therefore, it should be used with caution in late-stage cases.

②Treatment of tapeworm disease

Pumpkin seeds can be used together with betel nut. See the entry for "betel nut" for details.

③Treatment of ascariasis

Pumpkin seeds can be boiled or fried and eaten. Children generally take 1-2 liang each time, on an empty stomach in the morning. 56 children aged 5-13 years with positive stool tests were observed, and 51 of them expelled roundworms 1-2 days after taking the medicine; 48 children had stool reexaminations on the 5th to 10th day, and 33 of them turned negative.

④Treatment of postpartum milk deficiency

Use 5-6 qian of raw pumpkin seeds each time, remove the shells and take out the kernels, wrap them in gauze and mash them into a paste, add an appropriate amount of boiling water and mix them (you can also add a little soybean oil or sugar and stir), take them once on an empty stomach in the morning and evening. Generally, it will take effect after taking them for 3-5 consecutive days. If you fry the pumpkin seeds or cook them into porridge, it will not work.