Description

Pumpkin Powder (Cucurbita Pepo)

HERB COMMON NAME :  Pumpkin

HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Cucurbita Pepo

FAMILY :  Cucurbitaceae

ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES :

• Element: Water
• Planet: the Moon
• Direction: West
• Energy:  Yin
• Gender:  Feminine
• Zodiac Sign:  Scorpio
• Chakra: 2nd Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
• Sabbat or Holiday: Samhain (Oct 31 – Nov 1)
• Deity or God / Goddess Association: Orisha Oshun, Shango, Gourdius, Lakshmi

Parts Used:  Fruit/Pulp, Seeds (the entire plant is edible, including the shell, flower, and leaves)

Description:  Pumpkin is a large, round, orange winter squash that is actually a fruit (a type of berry). Cucurbita Pepo Pumpkins are one of the earliest domesticated species in North America, with the earliest cultivation believed to be in Mexico between 7,000-5,500 BCE. Pumpkins have a thick smooth ribbed shell that contains edible pulp and seeds. The fruit generally grows from 6 to 18 pounds. Giant Pumpkins can grow to a whole ton. The heaviest Pumpkin of record was grown in 2023 and weighed 2,749 lbs. The whole Pumpkin is used for autumn decoration, and is also traditionally carved as decoration for Halloween. Pumpkin pie is a traditional desert in the United States at the Thanksgiving feast. The fruit is also used to make soups, bread, is served roasted or puréed, and is used in other culinary delights. The flowers are used as edible garnish, and are sometimes battered and fried. The seeds are rich in nutrients and are often salted and baked as a popular snack. Pumpkin oil is sometimes used in cooking and in salad dressings.

Pumpkin is a low-calorie weight-loss-friendly food that is rich in nutrients, including vitamin A which when deficient is a common cause of blindness. It is also rich in beta-carotene. Scientists have discovered in studies that people with higher beta-carotene intake have significantly lower risk of cataracts, a common cause of blindness. Pumpkin is also one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, two compounds linked to lower risks related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.

Pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that promotes weight loss, having under 50 calories per cup and consisting of 94% water. It is also a good source of fiber, which can help curb appetite.

Pumpkin is loaded with nutrients that are good for skin. It is high in carotenoids, which your body turns into vitamin A that acts as a natural sun-block and helps protect skin cells against damage from harmful UV rays. Pumpkin is also high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy skin and needed to make collagen, a protein that keeps your skin strong and healthy. Pumpkins also contain Lutein, Zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and many more antioxidants that have been shown to boost the skin’s defenses against UV rays.

Pumpkins have been used in folk medicine by Native Americans to treat intestinal worms and urinary ailments. Pumpkin was also a remedy used by American doctors in the early nineteenth century as an anthelmintic for the expulsion of worms. Pumpkin seeds have been used as a natural remedy for intestinal worms.

Pumpkin is rich in fiber and high in prebiotics, and may help relieve constipation and diarrhea for some people. Frozen pumpkin purée is sometimes given as a sweet treat to pets that helps to ease their digestive upsets.

Historical Uses:  digestion, intestinal worms, intestinal parasites, constipation, diarrhea, vision, blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration, weight loss, skin damage, collagen boosting

Mystical Attributes:  Pumpkin carving is a popular Halloween tradition, born from the Irish tale of a man named “Stingy Jack” (hence the name jack-o-lantern). Legend has it that Stingy Jack had a reputation as a drunken deceiver and manipulator. The Devil heard a tale of Jack and ventured to meet him. Jack came upon Satan while drunk and wandering a cobblestone path through the countryside at night. Jack, realizing that Satan had come to collect his soul, made a last request that he be allowed a drink of ale before being taken to Hell. Satan agreed, took Jack to a local pub, and supplied him with many alcoholic beverages. When it came time to pay the barkeep, neither Jack nor Satan had any money. So Jack convinced Satan to turn himself into a silver coin with which to pay the barkeep, then turn himself back when no one was looking. Satan was impressed by Jack’s trickery and went along with the plan. But when Satan transformed himself, Jack instead stuck the coin into his own pocket, which also contained a crucifix. The crucifix trapped Satan and kept him from returning to his form. This forced Satan to agree to Jack’s demand of sparing his soul for ten years in exchange for his freedom. Ten years later, Jack once again found himself met with the Devil, and accepted it was his time to present in Hell. But Jack asked that he could first have one apple to feed himself. Satan once again agreed. And the trickster that he was, Jack climbed the branches of a nearby apple tree that was surrounded at the base by crucifixes. Satan was trapped once again. So Jack, as before, made yet one last demand that his soul never be taken to Hell. Having no choice, the Devil agreed. Eventually, when Jack died, his soul was prepared to enter Heaven through the gates of St. Peter, but he was stopped. He was told by God that because of his sinful ways, deceitfulness, and deeds, he was not allowed into Heaven. Jack then went down to the Gates and Hell and begged for admission into the Underworld. Satan, however had a promise to Jack that he never be allowed into Hell and was unable to admit his soul. He threw an ember of fiery brimstone to Jack to light his way, which Jack placed inside a hollowed turnip and carried while doomed to roam the world for all eternity between the planes of good and evil. Lighting a hallowed turnip became a tradition of All Hallow’s (the festival Samhain), to light the paths of souls wandering the Earth. But this was later replaced by the lighting of a pumpkin, which is much easier to carve.

Mystical Intentions:  fertility, strength, warmth, light, home protection, calling ancestors, guiding souls of the dead, communicating with spirits

Taste & Smell:  Pumpkin has a very distinct delightful mix of slightly sweet and savory flavors, somewhat nutty (comparable to a sweet potato), with a soft and velvety texture. It has a spicy fruity aroma.

Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Commonly grown in the New England states of the US, Pumpkin grows in terrestrial wet disturbed habitats, waste areas, meadows and fields, and shores of rivers or lakes. The top Pumpkin-producing states include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. Around 95% of the U.S. crop intended for processing is grown in Illinois.

Pumpkins are a warm weather crop, usually planted by early July in the Northern Hemisphere. They require that soil temperatures 3” deep are at least 15.5°C (60°F) and that the soil holds water well.

Pumpkins produce both a male and female flower, with fertilization usually performed by bees.

Contraindications & Toxicity:

• Some may experience allergic reaction from eating pumpkin.
• High amounts of pumpkin may cause a “water-pill”-like reaction. Do not use when taking diuretics.

High amounts of pumpkin may cause stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea.

Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources

**IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product.

PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions.

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