Pharmaceutical Name

Semen Cucurbitae moschatae

Botanical Name

Cucurbita moschata Duch.

Common Name

Pumpkin seed and husks

Source of Earliest Record

Xiandai Shiyong Zhongyao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations

After the pumpkin ripens in summer or autumn, its seeds are removed, cleaned in water, dried in the sun and crushed into powder. Fresh seeds are also used, and, when available, they are a better choice.

Properties & Taste

Sweet and neutral

Meridians

Stomach and large intestine

Functions

To kill parasites

Indications & Combinations

Tapeworm. Pumpkin seed (Nanguazi) is used with Areca seed (Binglang).

Dosage

60-120 g

Cautions & Contraindications

In treating tapeworm, the 60-120 g of powder of the herb is taken. Two hours later, the decoction of 60-120 g Areca seed (Binglang) is taken, and then half an hour later, 15 g of Glauber's salt (Mangxiao) in decoction is taken. This method will discharge both the tapeworm and feces.