Evidence supporting the use of: Pumpkin
For the body system: Kidneys
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Asia and parts of Europe, as a food that may benefit kidney health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pumpkin is sometimes recommended as a food that supports the Spleen and helps promote urination, thereby indirectly benefiting the Kidneys by assisting in fluid metabolism and reducing water retention. Similarly, some traditional herbal texts in Europe mention pumpkin seeds and flesh as mild diuretics, which could theoretically support kidney function by encouraging urine production and potentially aiding in the elimination of waste products.
However, scientific evidence directly supporting the use of pumpkin for kidney health is limited. While pumpkin seeds are known for their antioxidant content and their use in supporting prostate and urinary tract health, substantial clinical studies specifically linking pumpkin or its seeds to improved kidney function or disease prevention are lacking. Most modern use for kidney support is still rooted in traditional practices rather than robust scientific validation. As such, while pumpkin is generally considered a healthy food due to its fiber, vitamins, and antioxidant compounds, its reputation for supporting the kidneys is primarily based on traditional rather than scientific evidence, and the strength of this evidence is modest.
Other ingredients that support Kidneys
AbutaAchyranthes
Adzuki bean
Aerva lanata
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Akebia
Alchornea
Alfalfa
Alisma
Allium tuberosum
amino acids
Amor seco
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
Anamarrhena
Anemarrhena
anemarrhena asphodeloides
Angelica
anthocyanins
antler
Antrodia camphorata
arbutin
Armillaria mellea
ashitaba
asparagus
astragaloside
astragalus
ba ji tian
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
bamboo
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bean
bearberry
bee products
Begonia fimbristipula
Bergenia
bergenin
bicarbonate
birch
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black garlic
black gram
black seed
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
boldo
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
bottle gourd
bovine
bovine kidney
broccoli
buchu
bur-reed
burdock
carrapicho
catalpol
caterpillar mushroom
celery
chaff flower
chanca piedra
chicory
Chinese fleeceflower
Chinese Ligustrum berry
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese pond turtle
Chiococca alba
cistanche
cleavers
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Coconut Water
coix
common thatching grass
cordyceps
corktree
cornflower
cornsilk
Cornus
costus
couch grass
cowpea
cranesbill
Cucurbita
Curculigo orchioides
currant
Cyathula
Cynomorium
dandelion
deer root
deer velvet
Dendrobium
Dianthus
Didymocarpus
Dipsacus
dodder
Drynaria
Dwarf Nettle
Echinodorus
Eclipta
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
elephant\'s head
elk antler
emodin
Erigeron
Erodium cicutarium
eucommia
Eucommia ulmoides
Eupatorium
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Euryale seed
ferric citrate
figwort
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavonoids
fleabane
fo-ti
fringed pink
fruit blend (proprietary)
fu ling
fungus
ganoderma
garlic
garlic bulb
Ginsenosides
Glechoma hederacea
Glutathione
Gnaphalium
gokhru
golden eye-grass
goldenrod
gooseberry
grape
gravel root
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
Guazuma ulmifolia
Gypenoside
heal-all
heather
Hemidesmus
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hibiscus
horny goat weed
horse gram
horseradish
horsetail
hydrangea
Hygrophila
Indian sarsparilla
Japecanga
Java tea
jiaogulan
Job\'s tears
joe-pye
juniper berries
Kalanchoe pinnatum
Khella
knotgrass
Kochia
Kokilaksha
kuding tea
Kukicha
L-glutathione
lemon
lemongrass
Lespedeza capitata
Lilium polyphyllum
lily
Lindera
lingonberry
lingzhi
Long Buchu
Longleaf buchu
lophatherum leaf
Loranthus
lotus
lotus seed
lovage
Lycium
Lycopodium
Lygodium
Lysimachia
madder
mallow
manzanita
Marshmallow
Matapalo Tree
Matico
Melon
Methenamine
Millet
millet seed
Ming Dang Shen
Mondo grass
Morinda
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Morus
Mulberry
Mung bean
Mushroom
Nettle
Nigella seed
noni
Oldenlandia diffusa
oleanolic acid
Operculina turpethum
Ophiopogon
orchid
Ovate Buchu
Palo Azul
Pansit-pansitan
Pareira
parsley
Pata de Vaca
pear
Pedalium
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Phlomis umbrosa
phlorizin
Phragmites
Phyllanthus
Picroside
Pipsissewa
plantain
Pluchea
Polydatin
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyporous mushroom
Polyporus
Portulaca
potassium
Premna
Psacalium peltatum
pu-er tea
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pyrola
Pyrrosia
queen of the meadow
radish
Rehmannia
rehmannia glutinosa
rhizome
rhubarb
rhubarb root
rockweed
root tuber
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubus
Rumex acetosa
Rupturewort
Salvianolic acid
Sargassum
sarsaparilla
Sassafras
Schisandrins
Scimitar bean
Scirpus
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
seaweed
sesame
sheep's sorrel
Shilajit
Smartweed
smilax
Soft rush
solomon's seal
Sophora
Speedwell
Spiny Restharrow
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Stone Root
Sulforaphane
Swertia
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Taraxol
Taxillus chinensis
Taxillus sutchuenensis
Tea
Terminalia
Thymoquinone
Trailing Arbutus
tribulus
Tribulus Terrestris
Trichopus zeylanicus
Triterpenes
Turtle Head
Varuna
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vegetable Protein
Veronica
vitamin B
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Watercress
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
Wulinshen
Yarrow
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yerba Mansa
Other body systems supported by pumpkin
ArteriesBladder
Blood
Brain
Digestive System
Eyes
Gastrointestinal Tract
Glandular System
Hair
Heart
Hepatic System
Immune System
Intestinal System
Kidneys
Large Intestines (Colon)
Liver
Lungs
Male Reproductive System
Ovaries
Prostate
Reproductive System
Skin
Small Intestines
Spleen
Stomach
Urinary System
Products containing pumpkin
Vitabase
Prostate Complex (Formerly Prostate Complete)
Vitabase
Prostate Support
Pure Encapsulations
Saw Palmetto Plus with Nettle Root
Pure Encapsulations
Saw Palmetto Plus with Nettle Root
Pure Encapsulations
Saw Palmetto Plus with Nettle Root
Douglas Laboratories
Uro-Pro ®
