Contents
Melon seeds have been used in folk medicine for centuries. Many do not know that they have invaluable benefits for humans. It is worth learning more about melon seeds and their use in medical practice.
The composition and calorie content of melon seeds
No wonder melon seeds have gained such popularity among folk remedies. Their composition is saturated with many rare and useful substances that determine the unique healing properties of the product. Among them:
- a rich spectrum of vitamins (B-groups, C, K, PP, A);
- no less diverse list of mineral compounds (Fe, Mg, K, Zn, I, Ca, P, Na, Se, Mn);
- pectin;
- fats;
- proteins.
The most significant concentration in melon seeds is B-group vitamins, which help to put the nervous system in order. They are also high in sodium, potassium and magnesium. Deficiency of these substances creates many health and appearance problems. Disturbed digestion, chronic fatigue, problematic skin and nails – this is far from the end of all the unpleasant symptoms that accompany this state of the body.
Saturation with pectin makes melon seeds necessary for those people who live in megacities or environmentally unfavorable areas. Modern ecology, food quality, to put it mildly, leaves much to be desired. Pectin removes harmful substances from the body, which are so saturated with the life around us: pesticides, salts of heavy metals, all kinds of poisons and toxins.
Despite the beneficial properties of melon seeds, they also have contraindications. The high fat content makes this product quite high-calorie – 500 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, when taking melon seeds as a remedy, you need to make sure that this does not affect the figure. Otherwise, the treatment will not be useful, because, as you know, excess weight is the source of most health and mood problems.
Is it possible to eat melon seeds
Melon seeds are recommended to eat in order to improve and strengthen the body, its protective properties. But there are a number of cases when they are contraindicated for admission:
- ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract;
- high acidity of the stomach;
- individual intolerance to the product.
Melon seeds should not be mixed with alcohol. It is advisable not to use them together with milk of animal origin, honey.
Benefits of melon seeds
Melon seeds have a wide range of healing effects. Most often they are used in the form of an aqueous emulsion. Seeds should be carefully crushed in a mortar, after which warm boiled water is gradually added to them. The resulting mixture should be filtered through a homemade filter, which is a multilayer piece of gauze. The concentrate obtained in this way should be taken 1/2 cup each time before meals when:
- coughing;
- urolithiasis;
- contaminated intestine.
This medicine increases the amount of urine separated, has a healing effect on the liver, kidneys, urinary tract, and eliminates the burning sensation during urination that accompanies certain diseases.
The drug cleans the liver and bile ducts, intestinal tract, pancreas. Reduces the risk of diabetes, eliminates many of its symptoms, prevents the development of complications. The mineral elements contained in melon seeds act on the biliary tract, freeing them from stagnant secretions, and alleviate the condition with cholecystitis. They remove uric acid, thereby preventing the formation of stones and sand in the urinary tract.
The raw material exhibits therapeutic activity in many skin diseases: dermatitis, rashes of various origins. Helps to remove phlegm in bronchitis, serves as a good prevention of asthma. Regulates the content of fat in the blood, liver. This property is used in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. Melon seeds serve as a good immunostimulant, strengthen and have a healing effect on the entire body.
What are the benefits of melon seeds for women
The high content of folic acid favorably affects the health of the female reproductive system. Due to its presence, melon seeds are beneficial in menopause. During menstruation, seeds will help normalize the emotional background of a woman, relieve depression and irritability.
Is it possible to melon seeds during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Melon seeds are extremely useful for expectant mothers with a rich and varied composition. They contain such important elements for a pregnant woman and her fetus as folic acid, vitamins C, B-groups and many others. It is better to talk with a specialist about the benefits and harms of melon seeds for women during pregnancy.
Ancient oriental medicine recommends taking 9 g of peeled melon seeds to quickly increase the amount of women’s milk. If the expected increase in milk separation does not occur, then the dose of seeds taken can be increased to 15 g.
The benefits of melon seeds for men
Since the time of Avicenna, melon seeds for men have been considered the most effective way to increase their libido. For this, it was recommended to take no more than 2 g of grains.
A significant concentration of zinc in melon seeds enhances potency, raises the quality of sperm, and improves its mobility.
Can melon seeds be given to children
Sometimes melon seeds are also recommended for children. Due to the significant content of folic acid, the preparations increase the possibilities of memory, intelligence, and help to concentrate. Due to these properties, it is especially useful for schoolchildren and students.
The use of melon seeds in folk medicine
The benefits of melon seeds for the body are manifested in many ways. Taking a decoction of seeds to cleanse and improve the liver, you can simultaneously improve the condition of other body systems.
In medical recipes, raw materials are taken in a dry, crushed form. Various forms of medicinal preparations commonly used in traditional medicine are prepared from the powder: milk from melon seeds, cocktails, water infusions and hot extracts. The seeds should not be subjected to frying, since heat treatment neutralizes most of the beneficial aspects of raw materials.
Sprouted melon seeds are not used in medical practice either. In this form, they become inedible, as they acquire toxic properties, bitterness. The use of melon seeds is not recommended to be combined with the intake of alcoholic beverages.
In order to grind the seeds into powder at home and cook something like flour out of them, you need to resort to using a coffee grinder, grinder for seasonings and spices. In order to cleanse the organs involved in digestion (liver, intestines), take the powder in a teaspoon in the morning, on an empty stomach.
melon oil
Melon oil made from seeds has significant healing potential. To get the full range of useful properties given by nature to this product, it is necessary to add it not during cooking, but to ready-made dishes.
With melon oil, you can:
- get rid of stones in the urinary tract, including the kidneys;
- improve the condition and functionality of the liver;
- affect blood sugar levels;
- get rid of “bad” cholesterol;
- speed up metabolism;
- strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Recommended regimen: one tablespoon with food, three times a day. The duration of treatment is 2-3 months.
For diseases of the upper respiratory tract
From melon seeds, you can get nutritious and healing drinks, which will also taste good. To cleanse the lungs of viscous, hard-to-remove sputum, there is a recipe based on raw grains and fibers taken from the core of the fruit.
Put the above ingredients into the blender bowl, add 0,5 liters of drinking water, a little honey or a sweetener. Beat everything at the highest speed so that the melon seeds are crushed as much as possible. Spices can be added to give an interesting flavor note. Take up to 5 times a day for a quarter cup.
Dried melon seeds are useful for bronchitis, a hard-to-treat cough. Grind, mix with water (1:8), stir thoroughly. Strain, sweeten slightly. Take ¼ cup five times a day.
For diseases of the genitourinary system
For urolithiasis, grind melon seeds and measure 3 tbsp. l. raw materials. Add a liter of milk and boil for 4 minutes. Take a glass three times a day. Instead of cow’s milk, it is good to use vegetable milk, for example, soy, rice, oat or any other.
To remove stones, boil 1 kg of melon seeds in 5 liters of water until a little more than half of the original volume remains. Cool, distribute in separate containers, put on the shelf of the refrigerator. Drink half a cup three times before meals.
The beneficial properties of melon seeds are also manifested in the infusion. Pour a glass of melon powder overnight into 3 liters of chilled boiled water. Drink throughout the day, replacing water and other drinks with infusion. This tool is also effective against worms.
For kidney stones
Boil a tablespoon of crushed melon seeds for 10 minutes in 0,25 liters of water. After cooling, strain, take half a cup twice a day for kidney disease as a diuretic. The decoction also serves as a good cosmetic remedy for spots, freckles, acne.
For diseases of the prostate
For urinary disorders in men and to improve the condition of the prostate gland, prepare a decoction with one tablespoon of melon seeds and a cup of vegetable milk.
For potency
For the treatment of impotence, eat a teaspoon of melon powder one hour after each meal, 3-4 times throughout the day. Or another treatment option for the same problem. The daily intake of melon flour should be 100 g. It must be taken twice, before and after sleep. At the same time, you can eat a little honey, which will ease the load on the spleen.
The beneficial properties of melon seeds are also useful for male infertility caused by insufficient sperm motility. It is necessary to regularly consume melon seeds in their natural form. This treatment option is also suitable for getting rid of prostate adenoma.
With diabetes mellitus
The benefits of melon milk from seeds are also necessary for diabetics. With this disease, steam one tablespoon of flour with a cup of water. Take on an empty stomach three times a day.
Beat in a blender 200 ml of water, a teaspoon of honey, melon seed powder. Take a cocktail up to 5 times a day for a crescent.
With cholecystitis, pancreatitis
In the complex therapy of cholecystitis, an infusion is used, prepared from a teaspoon of powder and a glass of vegetable milk. Mix the mixture on fire for no more than 4 minutes. Apply three times a day for a week. To improve the outflow of bile, it is enough to dry the melon seeds in the fresh air and eat them. In addition, the product can improve the secretory activity of the pancreas.
Eating melon seeds is undesirable under the following conditions:
- increased secretion of gastric juice;
- problems with the spleen;
- the presence of toxicosis in pregnant women, as the seeds slow down the excretion of acetone.
In fact, melon seeds are very useful during pregnancy, but their amount should not exceed 100 g per day. Otherwise, constipation, unpleasant symptoms in the stomach may develop, so a doctor’s consultation is necessary.
The use of melon seeds in cosmetology
In cosmetology, melon decoction is rightly called the “elixir of youth.” Rejuvenation of the skin and other elements of the appearance occurs due to the high content of zinc. Extracts obtained from seeds strengthen the nail plates, add shine and splendor to the hair.
Pour a tablespoon of melon seeds with a cup of boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. The result is something like cosmetic milk. They can wipe the skin, rinse the hair after washing, make therapeutic baths for hands and nails.
How to select, dry and store melon seeds
The benefits and contraindications of melon seeds largely depend on the quality of drying and storage. Carefully dried raw materials are well preserved. The grains of ripe melons have a whole range of useful properties.
Select the seeds from the cut pulp, rinse them on a sieve under running water, let the excess water drain. Dry at a temperature not higher than + 35- + 40 degrees.
Under proper conditions, seeds can be stored for a very long time – up to 8 years, without losing their qualities. After drying, they are distributed in paper, linen bags, sachets. If under-dried seeds are stored in plastic bags, this will cause mold to appear on them. Therefore, for long-term storage, airtight glass jars and bottles are more often used.
Conclusion
Melon seeds in folk medicine are no less important than the pulp of the fruit. Therefore, one should not rush to throw away seemingly unnecessary seeds. Their beneficial properties are used to solve many health problems.