More Than Decorations: Pumpkin in Traditional Chinese medicine
Halloween is just around the corner on the last day of October!
Pumpkins are not only seasonal decorations, but also nutritious foods that is suitable for any age group.
Pumpkin’s Journey to China: From Famine Relief to
Medicinal Treasure
Pumpkins were introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty. It saved many lives during famine times due to their short growth cycle and high yield.
There are medicinal uses for every part of the pumpkin plant. Pumpkin seeds promote diuresis, reduce swelling, expel parasites, and treat schistosomiasis. In some regions, dried pumpkin leaves are ground into powder and applied to wounds to stop bleeding and relieve pain. Aside from that, the stem can be used to treat abscesses and boils as well as stabilize pregnancy.
According to the Materia Medica of Yunnan, pumpkin is warm in nature, sweet in flavor, non-toxic, and enters the spleen and stomach meridians. Besides nourishing the lungs, it also boosts energy, expels phlegm and pus, relieves coughs and asthma, and promotes urination.
Pumpkins contain Vitamin E, chromium, beta-carotene, and pectin, which can help lower blood sugar levels. There's even a saying in ancient China: "Half a pumpkin on a hot day, no herbal medicine needed."
According to Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica, pumpkins were ranked alongside Ganoderma (lingzhi), which demonstrates their excellent nutritional qualities.
Pumpkin and Job’s Tears Porridge
To enjoy the health benefits of pumpkin, TCM practitioners suggests combining it with Job’s tears, goji berries, and eggs. Goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys and improve vision, while Job's tears strengthen the spleen, cool the body, and detoxify. Moreover, both ingredients reduce blood sugar levels. It boosts energy and strengthens the spleen and stomach, making it ideal for people with diabetes, hypertension, and the elderly.
Ingredients:
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100g pumpkin
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300g cooked white rice
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50g Job’s tears seeds
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10 Goji berries
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2 eggs
Directions
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Peel the pumpkin, slice it, and blanch it briefly in boiling water. Take out and set aside.
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Boil the Job's tears for 30 minutes, then drain them. Rinse the goji berries and set aside.
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Pour enough water into a pot to cover the ingredients, and simmer the pumpkin until it is soft. Add the cooked rice and Job’s tears, stirring briefly.
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Season the porridge, add the eggs, and cook until smooth. Sprinkle goji berries on top and serve in bowls.
However, pumpkin is a fruit-vegetable and can only be used as a supplementary food. In the Compendium of Materia Medica, pumpkin overconsumption can cause beriberi or jaundice. The Sui Xi Ju Dietary Manual recommends avoiding pumpkin consumption if one has food stagnation, malaria, jaundice, dysentery, abdominal bloating, beriberi, or postpartum heatstroke.
Citations:
Li, S. (1578). Compendium of Materia Medica (本草纲目).
Zhou, Z. (n.d.). Recommendations on Pumpkin Consumption in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Materia Medica of Yunnan (滇南本草). (n.d.).
“Pumpkin and Prostate Health.” Journal of Medicinal Food, (2019).
Smith, J., & Lee, H. (2021). "The Role of Pectin in Heavy Metal Detoxification." International Journal of Nutrition and Detox.