Medicinal Monday... Field Pumpkin

In New England, we see pumpkins everywhere in the fall. It is Autumn's official mascot, adding charm to decor and spice to our muffins, coffee, and pastries. In addition to using pumpkins in traditional recipes, Native American communities also found several interesting medicinal uses for the field pumpkin.

About Field Pumpkins

Cucurbita Pepo L more commonly known as Field Pumpkin is an annual climbing vine that sprawls along the ground with bright yellow flowers in the summer that bear large luscious fruits in the fall. The fruit can be fried, baked, or added to soups, cakes, cornmeal, stews, and more. The seeds are scooped out and baked and even the blossoms are eaten.  This species is monoecious which means that the flowers are either male or female, but both flowers that are pollinated by insects can be found on one plant. It is considered to be Native to North America and has been cultivated for thousands and thousands of years. Most experts believe that this plant, which is in the cucumber family originated in Mexico, and made its way to the north where it was cultivated in prehistoric North America.

Medicinal Uses

There are many interesting medicinal uses for this plant. The most common use was to make an infusion of the seeds and give it to children with urination problems and tapeworms. The seed was ground into a powder put into a liquid and given to children to rid them of internal parasites. The seeds were also taken to relieve dropsy.  Specifically, the Cherokee feed their children browned seeds to stop them from bedwetting. They also used the seeds as an ingredient in Green Corn Medicine. The Meskwaki made a decoction from the stem and gave this mixture to women with "female problems," and the Navajo ate the leaves to relieve upset stomachs. The Pima made a powder from the seeds ground it into a paste and applied it to their face as a moisturizer. The Zuni used this plant as an ingredient in"schumaakwe" cakes which they ate to ease swelling and rheumatism.

Did You Know...

Cucurbita Pepo is considered by experts to be one of the oldest domesticated species of squash that is thought to have originated in Oaxaca, Mexico around 8,000 years ago.

As a gourd, these plants were made into cups, ladles, duppers, and containers. 

The Zuni used this gourd as a receptacle for holding precious objects. They also wore the gourds in dances and made rattles from them. 

The Iroquois ate squash at feasts of ceremonial importance and in Long House ceremonies.