The Omaha, Osage, Ponca, and Dakota attributed mystical and medicinal powers to the root. Their names refer to it as "strong medicine" and "pumpkin medicine". Special care was taken when unearthing the root, for it was believed that an injury to the root would lead to injury of oneself or one's family members.
 

Some Apache groups used a warm mixture of pulverized stems, leaves and roots to treat sores on horses.
 

The root can grow to enormous proportions. It will descend 4 to 6 feet and weigh more than 100 pounds. A root weighing 178 pounds has actually been recorded!
 

The gourds were sometimes made into ceremonial and children's rattles.