medicinal herbs
Wild Cucumber
Echinocystis lobata

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Wild Cucumber

Latin name: Echinocystis lobata

Synonyms: Sicyos lobata

Family: Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber Family, Gourd Family)

Medicinal use of Wild Cucumber:

The pulverized root is used as a poultice for headaches. A very bitter tea brewed from the roots is analgesic and is also used as a love potion. It is used as a bitter tonic for alleviating stomach troubles, kidney ailments, rheumatism, chills, fevers etc.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Rich soils by streams. Thickets.

Other uses of Wild Cucumber:

The seeds have been used as beads.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow early spring in a rich compost in a greenhouse, placing 2 - 3 seeds in each pot. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 2 weeks at 20°C. Thin the seedlings to the best plant in each pot, grow them on fast and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away well.

Cultivation of Wild Cucumber:

Rich soils by streams. Thickets.

Known hazards of Echinocystis lobata:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.