Semen Cucurbitae
Source
Seed of Cucurbita moschata Duch., family Cucurbitaceae.
Characteristics
Seed flat-ovate; surface brown, slightly coarse, with a hilum at the apex.
Sweet in taste, warm in nature, and attributive to stomach and large intestine
channels.
Indication
Kill parasite: For taeniasis, more effective when used together With Semen
Arecae. For schistosomiasis, symptomatic relief (including the fever subsidence
in acute infection) is evident, but the ova negative rate is not high;
also for ascariasis.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Synergetic with Arecae for tapeworm infection.
2. Cucurbitine, one of its components, is schistosom icidal.
Administration
For taeniasis: 60-120g as powder, and followed by oral use of Arecae solution
two hours later.
For schistosomiasis: 200-300g daily, prepare as aqueous extract or as
decoction with oily component discarded, for one month.
For ascariasis: 30-60g chewed and swallowed for 1-3 days in children.