A Remedy For The Bladder And Prostate: Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds of a specific variety are effective in reducing the need to go to the bathroom and in reducing inflammation of the prostate and irritated bladder.
Pumpkins belong to the genus Cucurbita (cucurbits), which includes about 20 species and more than 800 varieties that are currently grown throughout the world.
A very specific variety is used for medicinal purposes. It is the Cucurbita pepol L. convar. citrullinine var. styriaca. The pulp of this pumpkin is tasteless, but its green, white-skinned seeds have proven medicinal properties on the bladder and prostate.
This variety, obtained after 15 years of selecting and crossing the right plants, has high amounts of a variety of active ingredients and nutrients: arginine and other amino acids, phytosterols (avenasterol, spinasterol, sitosterol and stigmasterol), terpenes, tocopherols, carotenoids and minerals (especially zinc).
Main indications of pumpkin seeds
Together, the mixture of compounds present in the seeds make them effective in the treatment of benign prostate enlargement, irritable bladder and infantile bedwetting.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
To achieve therapeutic effects , 10 to 15 g of the seeds should be consumed daily. This dose may decrease the need to urinate at night in benign prostatic hyperplasia. It does not produce notable side effects and can be taken for long periods.
In animal experiments, the pumpkin seed was able to reduce the size of the prostate, but there are no studies that have proven this property in men.
Even if their condition improves, it must be remembered that people with hyperplasia should go for regular medical check-ups.
Infantile enuresis
For infantile bedwetting, take 3 tablespoons of the crushed seeds throughout the day, adding them to yogurts, mueslis, salads or desserts.
Joint swelling
In animal studies, pumpkin seeds have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These properties could be interesting in the nutritional and complementary treatment of disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
In traditional European medicine, pumpkin seeds were used as a diuretic (to promote fluid elimination) and anthelmintic (to combat intestinal parasites).
