Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a creeping vine that grows long fruit commonly eaten as a vegetable. The fruit, seed, and stem are used in medicine.
Cucumber seed contains fats that might help lower cholesterol. The fruit contains chemicals that might help to reduce swelling and speed up wound healing.
People use cucumber for burns, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse cucumber with Chinese cucumber. These are not the same.
Is It Effective?
There is interest in using cucumber for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Cucumbers are commonly consumed as food. Cucumber extract and cucumber seed extract are possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other cucumber products are safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: Cucumber extract, fruit, fruit extract, fruit water, juice, seed extract, and seed oil are likely safe when used appropriately. Some people might experience mild skin redness or irritation.
Special Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Cucumbers are commonly consumed as food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if cucumber is safe to use in larger amounts as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Allergies: Cucumber may cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to other fruits and plants, such as kiwi, melon, watermelon, banana, apricot, latex, papaya, celery, carrot, and ragweed. Avoid eating cucumber if you are allergic to any of these products.
Diabetes: Cucumber seed might decrease blood sugar levels. This might increase the chance of blood sugar levels becoming too low in people being treated for diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar carefully.
Surgery: Cucumber seed might lower blood sugar levels. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using cucumber seed at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cucumber seed might lower blood sugar levels. Taking cucumber seed along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Cucumber seed might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Cucumbers are commonly eaten as a vegetable. But as medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of cucumber might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
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