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. |
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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
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