This Order gives us ten drugs and some edible fruits.

Medicines:
1. Bryonia alba
2. Colocynthis cucumis
3. Cucurbita citrullus
4. Cucurbita pepo
5. Cucrbita maxima
6. Elaterium
7. Momordica Balsamina
8. Momordica charantia
9. Momordica foetida
10. Momordica involucrata

Edible fruits:
1. Water melon
2. Cantaloupe
3. Cucumber
The seeds of watermelon, pumpkin and squash have Anti-helminthic action and some of these have diuretic properties also.

Group characteristics:
All these medicines act prominently on the alimentary tract. They act paralysingly on the vasomotor nerves of the abdomen. They seem to have cathartic action and produces griping pains and gushing diarrhoea.
For example, (a) Elaterium; produces a sudden enormous effusion of serum into the bowels – thus producing watery diarrhoea. Stools forcing out profusely. (b) Colocynth produces violent intestinal irritation – first of watery evacuations and later of mucus and blood.
Ailments from anger: In Bryonia and colocynth neuralgic pain is resulted from anger and mortification
Sciatic pains: Elaterium, Bryonia and colocynth produce sciatic pains.
Cucurbita pepo and cucurbita citrullus are very effective in the treatment of tapeworm.
n Colocynth and Byonia Rheumatic pains are relieved by rest, pressure and lying on painful side.

 Individual study of Medicines in Cucurbitacea family

BRYONIA ALBA
(White bryony or wild hope)

It acts as an irritant and sets up a condition of sub acute inflammation of synovial joints, resulting in exudation and effusion in muscles and joints.
Inflammation, dryness and lack of secretion are the keynotes.

Characteristic indications:
• All complaints are worse from motion, ameliorated by absolute rest and pressure and lying on the affected side.
• All the complaints develop slowly and have an insidious onset.
• Dryness of mucus membranes especially mouth, nose, respiratory tract and alimentary tract.
• Great thirst for large quantity of cold water at long intervals with white-coated tongue.
• Dropsical effusion into the serous and synovial membranes which cause pleurisy and rheumatic arthritis.
• Most of the complaints are aggravated in summer and heat; when the days are hot and nights are cold.
• Vicarious menstruation; nose bleed when menses should appear.
• Heaviness of breast, breast hot and painful; must support them with hand to prevent least motion.
• Desires to escape from bed and wants to go home, although patient is at home.
• Desires many things, which are rejected when offered.
• Headache from ironing and draught of air.
• Dry hard, knotty stool; as if burnt.
• Morning diarrhoea, as soon as the patient gets up from bed and puts the feet on the floor.


COLOCYNTHIS CUCUMIS (Bitter of Squirting cucumber)
• Colic compelling the patient to bend double, relief obtained by motion and hard pressure. Colic occurs in association with dysentery or cholera.
• Rheumatic pain aggravated by motion and ameliorated by rest and pressure.
• General aggravation during 4-9 p.m.
• Shooting pains like lightning shocks down the whole limb.
• Vertigo when quickly turning the head to left.
• Irritable and impatient; becomes angry or offended on being questioned. Anger and indignation cause complaints.

CUCURBITA PEPO (Pumkin seed )
Intense nausea immediately after eating.
Vomiting of pregnancy.
It is a Teniafuge

CUCURBITA CITRULLUS (Seeds of Water- melon)
Painful urination with sense of constriction and backache

ELATERIUM – ECBALIUM (Squirting cucumber)
It is indicated in cholera, beriberi and dropsy. Mental disorders and urticaria coming as a consequence of suppressed Malaria.

Characteristic indications:
• Violent vomiting and purging with griping in bowels
• Evacuations are copious, forceful and watery. Squirting diarrhoea – frothy, olive green.
• Much yawning and stretching especially during chill stage of fever.
• Feeling as if the posterior nares and upper part of oesophagus were enlarged.
• Bad effects of damp whether
• Irresistible desire to wander from home at night
• Gouty pain in great toe.

MOMORDICA BALSAMINA (Balsam Apple)
• Gripping colic in hypogastrium and pain in back with excessive menstruation
• Sensation of accumulation of flatus in splenic flexure of colon
• Contents of head feel lighter.

MOMORDICA CHARANTIA ( Hairy Mordica)
• Cholera with nausea, vomiting and colic.
• Abdomen seems full of fluids, discharged explosively, thin, watery and yellow stool. Great thirst.

References:
1. Clarke: A dictionary of practical Materia Medica
2. William Boericke: Materia Medica with Repertory
3. E.A. Farrington: Clinical Materia Medica