Cucumbers


Cucumber

A genus of about 30 climbing or scrambling annuals or perennials, native to tropical Asia and Africa. Cucumis sativus (cucumber) has been cultivated in India since earliest times and was known to ancient Greeks and Romans. There are numerous cucumber variants worldwide, from self-fertile, female cultivars to hardier "ridge" cucumbers and small-fruited gherkins. Most are picked when immature for use as vegetables, although ripe fruits contain seeds that are rich in edible oils. Culpeper wrote of the cucumber in The English Physician Enlarged (1653): "there is not a better remedy for ulcers in the bladder" and "the face being washed with their juice, cleanses the skin". Bitter cucumber, C. colocynthis, is an important homeopathic remedy for colic. The African horned cucumber, C. metuiferus, is important as a rootstock and source of disease-resistant genes for cucumbers. It has spiny, orange-red skin, and green flesh that is eaten raw, cooked, dried or pickled.

The watery, mild tasting cucumber is one of the oldest foods around, having been gathered and possibly cultivated as long ago as 9750BCE in Southeast Asia. Yet Englishmen in the seventeenth century were convinced that eating cucumbers would be fatal, although lying on a bed of the same was one of their cures for fever.

Trailing annual with triangular-ovate leaves, to 18cm (7in) long and across. Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers, 4cm (1½in) across, appear in spring and summer; males in the axils; females, larger and usually solitary, are followed by ovoid to elongate fruits containing white, ovate seeds.


Common Name:
Cucumber
Other Names:
Wild Cucumber
Botanical Name:
Cucumis sativus
Genus:
Cucumis
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Cultivation:
Rich, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Pinch out growing tips when plants have three leaves and again when lateral shoots have four or five leaves. Prone to various diseases, including mosaic virus, Botrytis, anthracnose, Verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, root rot, and Sclerotina. Cucumbers may be grown on poles or trellis, or on the ground, according to variety.
Propagation:
By seed sown in spring at 18°C (64°F)
Harvest:
Fruits are picked unripe and used fresh, or as pulp or juice. Seeds are collected from ripe fruits and dried.
Native Location:
India
Height:
2m (6ft)
Width:
Indefinite
Variations:
Burpless Tasty Green
Is a mildew-resistant, outdoor (ridge) variety that produces numerous fruits best when 25cm (10in) long.

Carmen
Is an all-female, greenhouse variety, highly resistant to mildew, scab, and leaf-spot, producing 50-100 fruits per plant.

Eureka
Has high disease resistance, yielding uniform fruits for pickling.
Hardiness:
Min. 10°C (50°F)
Parts Used:
Leaves, fruits, seeds, oil
Properties:
A cooling diuretic, alterative herb that clears and softens the skin. Seeds expel intestinal parasites.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for blemished skin, heat rashes, and overheating in hot weather (fruit); tapeworm (ground seeds). Externally for sunburn, scalds, sore eyes, and conjuctivitis.
To treat hypotension and hypertension; as a diuretic.
Typical Dose:
A typical dose of cucumber may range from 1 to 2 oz of ground seeds steeped in 150 ml of hot water, strained and taken as a decoction.
Possible Side Effects:
Cucumber's side effects include belching and heartburn.
Drug Interactions:
Taking cucumber with these drugs may increase the drugs diuretic effects:
Acetazolamide, (Apo-Acetazolamide, Diamox Sequels)
Amiloride, (Midamor)
Azosemide, (Diat)
Bumetanide, (Bumex, Burinex)
Chlorothiazide, (Diuril)
Chlorthalidone, (Apo-Chlorthalidone, Thalitone)
Ethacrynic Acid, (Edecrin)
Etozolin, (Elkapin)
Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix)
Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene, (Dyazide, Maxzide)
Hydroflumethiazide, (Diucardin, Saluron)
Indapamide, (Lozol, Nu-Indapamide)
Mannitol, (Osmitrol, Resectisol)
Mefruside, (Baycaron)
Methazolamide, (Apo-Methazolamide, Neptazane)
Methyclothiazide, (Aquatensen, Enduron)
Metolazone, (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn)
Olmesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide, (Benicar HCT)
Polythiazide, (Renese)
Spironolactone, (Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton)
Torsemide, (Demadex)
Triamterene, (Dyrenium)
Trichlormethiazide, (Metatensin, Naqua)
Urea, (Amino-Cerv, UltraMide)
Xipamide, (Diurexan, Lumitens)
Taking cucumber with this drug: may be harmful:
Digitalis, (Digitek, Lanoxin)—may increase risk of drug toxicity.
Culinary Uses:
Fruits are eaten, cooked or pickled, sliced as a garnish, or added to yogurt or sour cream to make raita (India) and tzatziki (Greece). Leaves are eaten as a potherb. Seed kernels are eaten raw or roasted, like pumpkin seeds, or pressed oil, known as huile de concombre, used in French cooking as a substitute for olive oil.
Economic Uses:
Used in cleansing and toning lotions for the face (fruits).
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown. Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pg 185
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.175-176