Bitter-gourd

Botanically it is known as Momordica charantia. It contains vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin C and iron. The fruit is very useful in gout, rheumatism, diseases of the spleen and liver. The fruit juice subsides vata, pitta and kapha the tridosas in ayurveda. The fruit and leaves are both administered orally in leprosy, piles and jaundice. Only the green fruit is used for medicinal purposes. The ripe fruit has got no value. Juice of the fresh leaves is also used as a mild purgative. The fruit is eaten by frying or boiling in cases of small-pox, chicken-pox and measles. With the advent of autumn and spring seasons, boiled fruit is eaten as a preventive against small-pox, chicken-pox and measles. Practically it acts as an anti-smallpox vaccine. The root is applied externally as pate to piles. The whole plant dried and powdered is used for dusting over the leprous and other intractable ulcers. Smaller varieties are richer in nutrients than larger ones. It is eaten boiled, baked, fried, stuffed and in curries and pickles.

According to J.F. Dastur, the leaf juice is anthelmintic, emetic and purgative; a decoction of the leaves is used as stomachic. The leaves are locally applied as a galactagogue; it is applied round the eyes for the cure of night blindness. The fruit is antidotal, antipyretic, tonic, appetizing, stomachic, anthelmintic, anti-bilious and laxative; it is used in leprosy, piles, jaundice, diabetes, rheumatism, gout, blood diseases, anaemia, urinary diseases, bronchitis and liver disorders; locally it is applied to burns, boils and eruptions.

Benefit and uses of Bitter-gourd.

• Bitter melon was traditionally used for an array of conditions by people in tropical regions. Numerous infections, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common conditions it was purported to improve. The leaves and fruit have both been used to make teas and beer.
• Bitter gourd contains essential vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, B1, B2, C and Iron, its regular use helps to prevent many complications such as hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and defective metabolism of carbohydrates.
• Bitter gourd is highly beneficial in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ring-worm and other fungal diseases.
• Fresh juice of leaves of bitter gourd is also an effective medicine in early stages of cholera and other types of diarrhoea during summer.
• Bitter leaf juice is beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism.
• It has also been reported that Bitter Melon may help in the treatment of HIV.
• Bitter melon extract may be effective in slowing the growth or spread of some types of cancer, particularly breast cancer.
• Bitter-gourd useful as an emtic, purgative, and as an anthelmentic, in jaundice, and piles.