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Benefits |
Preparation |
Medicinal Uses |
Side Effects |
Plant |
Folklore |
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| Common Names |
| Bitter Melon , balsam pear, bitter gourd |
| Botanical Name |
| Momordica charantia |
| Family |
| CUCURBITACEAE Gourds |
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Diabetes *
Herpes *
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| Parts Used: gourd fruit |
| Constituents:Glycosides: momordin, charantin Alkaloids: momordicinOthers: polypeptide-P Oils (seed only): stearic, linoleic, oleic acids Glycoproteins: alpha-momorcharin, beta-momorcharin, lectins |
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The gourd-like fruit has a long history as a treatment for diabetes. Bitter melon improves the body's ability to use blood sugar and improves glucose tolerances.
Bitter melon is used to treat infections caused by retrovirues, and is being investigated in the treatment of HIV Otheruses for bitter melon include treating colds, flu and fever, parasites, digestive and skin diseases. |
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Prep Methods :Bitter melon can be taken as the whole fruit, tincture or juice. For diabetes the tincture is the form most often used and it is often combined with gurmar (gymnema sylvstre).
 Remedies using Bitter Melon
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| Lower Blood Sugar | | Several clinical trials have shown that bitter melon extract and juice lower blood sugar in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. One of the phytochemicals, charantin is said to be more potent than tolbutamide, and has fewer side effects. If you can find the melons at an Asian market try eating one small one each day 366
(Duke, James A, Ph.D. ) | | Diabetes | | It contains several phytochemicals that appear to act in ways similar to sulfonyurea drugs, without the side effects. Bitter melon also contains compounds that are close chemical relatives of insulin. 634
(White,Linda B., M.D. ) | | Diabetes | | Bitter melon has been used to treat diabetes, cancer, viral infections, and immune disorders. Data suggest that a significant hypoglycemic effect occurs in both healthy and diabetic patients. However, bitter melon should not be used in place of mainstream therapies. In vitro and animal studies indicate antiviral activity against HIV and herpes, cytotoxic effects against leukemic cells, and cytostatic effects in breast cancer, but related human studies have not been conducted. 1312
. Bitter Melon. (), Sloan-Kettering 2008-06-03 | | Herpes | | Bitter melon exytracts are two to thre times more effective that the popular prescription drug acyclovir (Zovirax) at killing strains of herpes viruses that are not drug resistant,and is 100's of times more effects at treating the drug resistant strains. 1313
(Phyllis A. Balch ) |
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| Side Effects: |
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| If you are taking medication for your blood sugar levels, take to your doctor before trying the fruit, and keep a close eye on your blood sugar. Avoid use if you have a history of liver problems. Excessive amounts can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Not for use during pregnancy |
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 A tropical vine with yellow flowers and reddish tinged fruit native to South America, Asia and Africa, bitter melon is an important ingredient in Asian cuisine. The fruit, which looks like a bumpy cucumber is the part of the plant used medicinally. You can find the fruit at Asian markets.
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