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The cucumber is native to southern Asia and was cultivated in India over 3,000 years ago.
Later it was introduced in France in the ninth century, and now cultivated in almost all temperate areas of the planet.
It is an herbaceous annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini or squash.
It can be climbing or crawling, reaching between 1 and 4 meters long.
The stems have simple tendrils. The leaves are large (± 15 cm), simple, alternate with 5 lobes, sharply angular.
The flower is unisex, yellow, gamopetalous and gamosepalous.
The fruits and seeds are used in phytotherapy.
The fruits reach a height about 20 cm, ranging from yellow to dark green color and can be smooth or warty.
The seeds are cream colored, smaller than the melon’s seeds.
The skin contains cucurbitacin, which is irritating and causes intestinal disorders if consumed in large quantities.
About 95% of the composition of cucumber is water. That is the reason to be low in calories and very refreshing.
It contains folate, Cvitamin, Avitamin, Evitamin, potassium, phosphorus, Mg, sulfur, iodine & nickel (essential for the body)
Cucumber is widely used by its dietary qualities, antioxidants, laxatives, emollients, soothing, refreshing and alkalizing.
Juice (used in lotions or washes) and cucumber pulp, are used in cosmetics as a moisturizing agent and refreshing of skin...
...in eczema, rashes, sunburn ... It also reduces wrinkles and skin blemishes and is useful versus acne.
Seeds are diuretic and useful in the treatment of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites, helping to eliminate them.
C vitamin is involved in the removal of nitrosamines (with carcinogeni nature) and enhances immune function.
Contains beta-sitoterol (with anti-inflammatory and hypoglycaemic action that supports the immune system).
Toxoplasmosis is only cured by eating exclusively raw cucumber for 40 days, which produces the detoxification of the body.
Its use helps blood circulation and purifying effects of the intestines.
Use in a poultice of the pulp helps against diseases of the throat.
The seed emulsion is used against piles, dermatitis, abscesses and rashes.
contraindications: Excessive intake of cucumber skin or seeds can cause intestinal irritation.