Cucumber is a vegetable.

• botanical information
• selection
• storage
• magick correspondences and uses
• health care
• Chinese herbology
• external skin care
• cautions and contraindications

botanical information:

    Botanical name: Cucumis sativus

    Common name: cucumber

    Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.

    See also Chinese herbalism below for Chinese gender and Chinese flavor.

selection:

    Reason to choose organic:
    Cucumbers have the number 16 highest pesticide load of 45 common fruits and vegetables studied in 2006 by the Environmental Working Group and is therefore a prime candidate for switching to organic. The EWA explains, “While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.”
    According to USDA and FDA tests on commercially grown foods collected between 2000 and 2005, cucumber has a 72.5% (percentage) of samples tested with detectable pesticides, a 31.7% (percentage) of samples with two or more pesticides, a 1.2 average number of pesticides found in a sample, an average of 0.057 parts per million of all pesticides found, and 40 different pesticides found in use growing cucumbers. These toxic pesticides don’t apply to organic foods.

storage:

    Storage: Eat cucumbers within five days of purchase.

     

magickal correspondences and uses:

    Gender: feminine (traditional western European magickal gender)

Magical Uses Chastity, Healing, Fertility information courtesy of

health care uses:

    Health Notice: Attempting to be an amateur doctor is potentially dangerous to your health. This web page is not professional medical advice. Nothing on this website should be considered as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice. Persons should seek the advice of qualified health providers. Self-medication should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care. Please confirm all self-medication with your doctor or health care professional. See the article on healing for recommended healers.

Chinese herbalism:

    Chinese gender: yin (cool)

    Chinese flavor: slightly sweet and bland

external care:

    External skin care: Cucumber in Great Skin Firming Night Cream: “Works by increasing your skin’s vitality and sealing in moisture. With collagen to restore elasticity and Vitamin E for healing. Deeply penetrates to prevent excess dryness. With sesame oil, olive oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, squalene, kakui nut oil, aloe vera, Vitamin E, lemon balm, comfrey, sage, marigold, marsh mallow, teaberry, jasmine, cucumber, Vitamin A, and Vitmin D. Firming night cream is a heavy moisturizer that deeply penetrates the skin and will prevent excess dryness. This therapeutic vitamin and moisturizing treatment increases the skin’s vitality and seals in the moisture, augmenting skin’s resilience. Contains collagen which restores elasticity, and vitamin E which helps in healing the skin. Nourishes the skin as it firms. Apply before bedtime after cleansing and toning.” Great Skin Firming Night Cream

    External skin care: Rhonda Allison Grape Seed Parfait Mask: “The Grape Seed Parfait Mask has overall hydrating effects provide skin with valuable nutrients that assist in replacing vitamins and antioxidants that strengthen and firm the skin. Provides skin with valuable nutrients that assist in replacing vitamins and antioxidants that streghten and firm for an overall hydrating effect. With shea butter, grape seed extract, squalane. Smells heavenly with blend of orange, clove, and cinnamon. Smooth onto face and neck for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Scoop out a small amount and smooth onto face and neck evenly. Place moistened chamomile tea bags or sliced cool cucumbers on the eyes and lie down to soothing relaxing music for 15 minutes or soak in your favorite herbal bath. Rinse away with warm water and blot skin dry.” Rhonda Allison Grape Seed Parfait Mask

cautions and contraindications:

    Cautions and contraindications: Cucumber is believed to be safe.

    Non-toxic to animals: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center has determined that cucumber “has not been reported as having systemic effects on animals or as having intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract.” —ASPCA

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