Rotten Pumpkins

5 Comments on “How Much Pumpkin Seed Oil Should You Take Daily For Depression?”

1. Donkey Rhubarb
   October 29th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

   Pumpkin seed oil (Kernöl or Kürbiskernöl in German, Bučno olje in Slovenian, Bučino ulje or Bundevino ulje in Croatian) is a culinary specialty of south eastern Austria (Styria), eastern Slovenia (Styria and Prekmurje), north eastern Croatia (esp. Međimurje), adjacent regions of Hungary, and a European Union Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product.
   Today the oil is an important export commodity of Austrian and Slovenian part of Styria. It is made by pressing the roasted skinless seeds of a local variety of pumpkins, the “Styrian Oil Pumpkin” (lat. Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca, also known as var. oleifera). It has been produced and used in its southern parts at least since the 18th century. The earliest confirmed record of oil pumpkin seeds in Styria (from the estate of a farmer in Gleinstätten) dates to February 18, 1697.
   The viscous oil is light green to dark red in colour depending on the thickness of observed sample ([[dichromatism|dichromatic colour[1]. Used together with yoghurt the color turns to bright green and is sometimes referred to as “Green Gold”.
   Pumpkin seed oil has a very intense nutty taste and is very healthy due to its richness in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Brown oil has a bitter taste. Interestingly, traditional claims based on local folk medicine regarding its usefulness in the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia may have some clinically proven efficacy (particularly along with Serenoa repens “Saw Palmetto” and Pygeum Africanum) according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine.
   Uses
   While pumpkinseed oil is most commonly used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, small studies have shown that pumpkinseeds, which contain amino acids, steroidal compounds, and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, may lower the risk of certain types of kidney stones and improve symptoms associated with enlarged prostates [[Alternative Medicine Magazine, January 2008, Issue 103, page 16. ]]. Additionally, pumpkin seeds reportedly contain significant amounts of L-tryptophan, which fights depression in higher doses. While pumpkin seeds do not contain these levels, they may be taken as a preventative. Some studies have also found pumpkin seeds to prevent hardening of the arteries and regulate cholesterol levels.
   Pumpkin seed oil, commonly prescribed in German folk medicine, remedies parasitic infestations such as tapeworms. The infected patient ingests roughly 10 ounces of ground pumkin seeds, milk, and honey. Castor oil is swallowed two hours later to eliminate the tapeworms.
   Pumpkin seed oil serves as a salad dressing when combined with honey or olive oil, but should never be heated, which destroys its essential fatty acids. [[1]]
   References
   ^ Kreft S and Kreft M (2007) Physicochemical and physiological basis of dichromatic colour, Naturwissenschaften 94, 935-939. On-line PDF
   Dreikorn K, Berges R, Pientka L, Jonas U.[Phytotherapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Current evidence-based evaluation][Article in German] Urologe A. 2002 Sep;41(5):447-51. “Only a few randomized clinical trials that meet standard criteria of evidence-based medicine but with relatively short follow-up times and some meta-analyses mainly regarding Serenoa repens and Pygeum Africanum as well as more recent studies on pumpkin seeds have shown clinical effects and good tolerability.”
   Vahlensieck W Jr. [With alpha blockers, finasteride and nettle root against benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which patients are helped by conservative therapy?] [Article in German] MMW Fortschr Med. 2002 Apr 18;144(16):33-6. Established medications for the treatment of BPH in current use are alpha-blockers, finasteride, and the phytotherapeutic agents pumpkin seed (cucurbitae semen), nettle root (urticae radix), the phytosterols contained in Hypoxis rooperi, rye pollen and the fruits of saw palmetto (sabalis serrulati fructus
   Dreikorn K. The role of phytotherapy in treating lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia. World J Urol. 2002 Apr;19(6):426-35. A number of short-term randomised trials and some metaanalyses in the recent literature suggest clinical efficacy and good tolerability for some preparations, mainly extracts from Serenoa repens and also Pygeum africanum, products with high concentrations of beta-sitosterol, and pumpkin seeds.
   Bracher F. [Phytotherapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia] [Article in German] Urologe A. 1997 Jan;36(1):10-7. ”In this article, the most widely used phytopharmaceutical agents, such as saw palmetto berry extracts, Radix urticae extracts, pumpkin seeds, pollen extracts and different phytosterols, are described. Based on these results, the use of phytopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of mild to moderate symptomatic BPH seems to be well justified.”
   Carbin BE, Larsson B, Lindahl O. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols. Br J Urol. 1990 Dec;66(6):639-41. ”In a randomised, double-blind study, the preparation Curbicin, obtained from pumpkin seeds and dwarf palm plants (Cucurbita pepo L. and Sabal serrulata), was compared with a placebo in the treatment of symptoms caused by prostatic hyperplasia; 53 patients took part in the study, which was carried out over a 3-month period. Urinary flow, micturition time, residual urine, frequency of micturition and a subjective assessment of the effect of treatment were all significantly improved in the treatment group.”
   Other types of pumpkin seed oil are also marketed worldwide by online shops. International producers use white seeds with shells and this produces a cheaper white oil. New producers of seeds are located in China and India.

2. !!Just Peachy!!
   October 29th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

   I hadn’t heard of that I used Evening Primrose oil my self.(post partum depression)

3. soccermo
   October 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

   I have no idea. I have never heard of taking pumpkin seed oil for depression.

4. LDB449
   October 29th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

   I’m not sure about pumkin seed oil for depression (which is probably why no one is answering your question directly)
   But try St John’s Wort instead. It has a mild affect – seems to calm the nerves a little bit and help you sleep better, which is a good step towards a “recovery”.

5. pat
   October 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

   2 cups, mix it with a little ether and then pour over red devil lye in a pyrex dish…Oh wait, that’s my meth recipie. I’ll get back to you on the pumpkin seed oil

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