Ecballium elaterium

Ecballium elaterium
Family:Ecballium elaterium; Abortifacient; Analgesic; Antirheumatic; Cardiac; Kidney; Purgative.
Common name:Squirting cucumber
The squirting cucumber has been used as a medicinal plant for over 2000 years though it has a very violent effect upon the body and has little use in modern herbalism. The juice of the fruit is antirheumatic cardiac and purgative. The plant is a very powerful purgative that causes evacuation of water from the bowels. It is used internally in the treatment of oedema associated with kidney complaints heart problems rheumatism paralysis and shingles. Externally it has been used to treat sinusitis and painful joints. It should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Excessive doses have caused gastro-enteritis and even death. It should not be used by pregnant women since it can cause an abortion. The fully grown but unripe fruits are harvested during the summer they are left in containers until the contents are expelled and the juice is then dried for later use. The root contains an analgesic principle.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 02:58 []