Spooky/Halloween Herbs: Jack-O-Lanterns, Zombies and Skulls! Oh my!

BY RACHEL CLARK

Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin):

A hallmark of spooky season, it’s almost scary how many benefits pumpkin has. It’s not necessarily the first “herb” to come to mind, but Cucurbita pepo should have a top-shelf spot in every herbalist's cabinet. Pumpkin is native to Central America and is one of the oldest known gourd cultivars, with records of crops dating back 8,000-10,000 years. Pumpkins were grown long before the arrival of Europeans and were one of the first American plants to be brought back to Europe in the 1500s. Used for a wide variety of conditions, modern studies are starting to reflect the traditional uses. Both the seeds and pumpkin flesh are used medicinally.

The seeds were used as an anthelmintic (to expel intestinal worms), as a diuretic and are a super nutrient-dense food. One cup of shelled pumpkin seeds, Pepitas, have 35 grams of protein and are high in omega 6 fatty acids, magnesium, copper and zinc! Pumpkin seeds are listed as an official medicine in the 10th edition of the German Pharmacopeia, and the European Medicines Agency has approved pumpkin to be used as a non-prescription medicine for prostate and urinary conditions. Studies so far have been small, but the results are promising. In the study “Medicinal and biological potential of pumpkin” published in 2010, pumpkin was shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, supportive for the liver and beneficial for the cardiovascular system.

The seeds are the primary part used in the study, followed by the pumpkin flesh. So, this season, as jack-o-lanterns start showing their faces, carve open a pumpkin, save the seeds, roast them and treat yourself to a healthful snack. That’s no trick.

Scutellaria lateriflora (Skullcap):

If you are planning a visit to Scarywood, be sure to have some skullcap on hand. Part of the mint family, Scutellaria lateriflora is one of 300 species of skullcap around the world. Its purple flowers look a bit like a person wearing a helmet, hence its name. It has a slightly bitter and floral taste. Any herbalist will tell you that S. lateriflora is a nervous system herb. Skullcap has very few studies done on it, and the published ones have been inconclusive. However it has traditionally been used to help calm nervousness, support digestion, and treat headaches, tension, nerve pain and stress. Native to the eastern United States, S. lateriflora is a great herb for sleep, especially when used as a warm tea.

Many times herbalists use three types of knowledge when discussing what an herb does: traditional, scientific and empirical, the latter meaning to try it yourself and see what works. Like seeing a ghost in a graveyard, it may not (yet) be measurable or explainable, but you know from your own experience what you saw and, in the case of Skullcap, what you felt.

Cordyceps militaris (Cordyceps):

Shotgunned to the national spotlight in the HBO drama The Last of Us, Cordyceps spp. definitely qualifies as a spooky herb. In the show, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where parasitic Cordyceps fungi have taken over and turned a large swath of the population into zombies.

While in reality, Cordyceps don’t infect humans, they do turn insects into zombies. The spores of the Cordyceps infect ants, caterpillars and other insects, taking over the body and brain.

The fungus uses the insect as a vehicle to take itself to the best location to fruit and like a true zombie, the ants will go where the fungus directs it. Whether they want to or not, the infected ants will climb high up in the trees where the cordyceps sprout out of their heads. Once sprouted, Cordyceps spreads its spores over the surrounding area putting the entire local ant population at risk of infection. There are 1000s of species of cordyceps and different species infect different insects.

Cordycepts can be found all around the world, but the most commonly used species (C. sinensis, C. militaris) grow in the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau between 3,000m-5,000m (9,800ft-16,000ft) elevation.

They may turn insects into zombies, but should not be scary to humans. In fact, cordyceps have traditionally been used for a wide range of health concerns, though many have not yet been scientifically studied. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) they have been used to help support the lungs and fatigue and have been found to be especially useful when visiting high altitudes. They also have been used as an aphrodisiac and are often recommended for the elderly to help support energy levels in addition to supporting the kidneys and immune functions.

Rachel Clark is a certified clinical herbalist and freelance writer based in Spokane. You can find out more about her practice at spokaneherbalist.com on Instagram @rachelclarkherbalist or by phone at 509-530-1369.