Calabaza, Citrouille, Cucurbita galeottii, Cucurbita mammeata, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbitea Peponis Semen, Cucumis pepo, Field Pumpkin, Graine de Citrouille, Huile de Graines de Citrouille, Pepo, Pumpkin Seed, Pumpkin Seed Oil.
Pumpkin is a plant. The seed and its oil are used to make medicine.
Pumpkin is used for treating bladder irritation, kidney infections, intestinal worms, and trouble urinating due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Pumpkin is sometimes used in combination with herbs to treat symptoms of BPH.
The roasted pumpkin seeds are considered a snack food.
How does work?
The chemicals in the pumpkin seed cause an increase in urination (diuretic effect), which helps relieve bladder discomfort. Pumpkin seed also contains a chemical that might kill intestinal worms.
Possibly Effective for...
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Taking pumpkin seed oil extract by mouth alone, or with saw palmetto, may help BPH symptoms.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Intestinal worms.
- Bladder irritation.
- Kidney infections.
- Other conditions.
SLIDESHOW
Sex-Drive Killers: The Causes of Low Libido See SlideshowPumpkin is safe in food amounts and considered POSSIBLY SAFE in medicinal amounts for most people. It may cause ejaculation problems in some men.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of pumpkin in medicinal amounts during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick with usual food amounts.LithiumInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Pumpkin might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking pumpkin might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): 480 mg of pumpkin seed oil extract per day in 3 divided doses in combination with saw palmetto and other herbs.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Carbin BE, Larsson B, Lindahl O. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols. Br J Urol 1990;66:639-41. View abstract.
De Bellis L, Gonzali S, Alpi A, et al. Purification and characterization of a novel pumpkin short-chain acyl-coenzyme A oxidase with structural similarity to acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenases. Plant Physiol 2000;123:327-34. View abstract.
Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal, 4th ed., Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
Friederich M, Theurer C, Schiebel-Schlosser G. [Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients]. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2000;7:200-4. View abstract.
Marks L, Partin AW, Epstein JI, et al. Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2000;163:1451-6. View abstract.
Younis YM, Ghirmay S, al-Shihry SS. African Cucurbita pepo L.: properties of seed and variability in fatty acid composition of seed oil. Phytochemistry 2000;54:71-5. View abstract.
Zhang X, Ouyang JZ, Zhang YS, et al. Effect of the extracts of pumpkin seeds on the urodynamics of rabbits: an experimental study. J Tongji Med Univ 1994;14:235-8. View abstract.