- Region
- Africa
- Origin
- Africa
Africa · Food · № 389
Citrullus lanatus
Food · Africa
Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
A very juicy fruit that quenches thirst. Oil from the seeds is used in hair care. In Chinese medicine the fruit is considered cooling and diuretic.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with cold or dampness in the body.
Preparation
External: watermelon seed oil in nourishing hair treatment.
Use in traditions
Its wild ancestor grows in north-eastern Africa; seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs, including that of Tutankhamun. In the Kalahari wild melons (tsamma) are an important source of water for the San. In Chinese medicine watermelon is called the 'natural White Tiger decoction', after a classic remedy for fever and thirst.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Makes hair soft and glossy.
Preparation and amount
External: watermelon seed oil in nourishing hair treatment.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, cold
- Meridians
- heart, stomach, bladder
Attributed effects
Xi gua cools summer heat with thirst and scanty urination and promotes urination with dark, scanty urine and jaundice. Crushed seeds are a well-known remedy for cystitis.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–30 g a day, or a few cups of fresh juice.
Caution: Not with cold or dampness in the body.
- Recipes
- Nourishing hair treatment
- Formulas
- Qing shu yi qi tang