by Sudeep Chitnis

Created on: November 05, 2009

Momordica charantia or also known as bitter melon or bitter gourd .For Indian's we know this fruit as "karela". Basically a fruit from Cucurbitaceae family of the plant kingdom is grown extensively in India and surrounding subcontinent.. Fruits which are having a warty look are oblong and have some scales which are juicy thus making them look like the back of a crocodile. It's normally a green fruit, but can turn yellow or red when its ripe .Normally eaten when it's green in texture, though some people do enjoy it even when its overripe. The fruit itself has a hollow cross section with relative thin flesh surrounding the central seeds. It has large flat seeds and some pith. Some people do enjoy eating both the seeds and the pith .Other normally love to use just the flesh surrounding the pith and seeds.

Karela or Momordica charantia has been known in the world of medicine for quite a long time. Even in the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda one can get its reference against many diseases and symptoms. In this article we would try to have a look on its medical values know to the age old science and also we would have a peek on its value in the recent scientific world along with its side effects or contraindication.

Diabetes and Bitter Melon:

The biggest known use of this plant in folk medicine like Ayurveda is for its known work on Blood sugar levels. In a recent scientific study at JIMPER,India , and in Philippines both areas researchers have shown that bitter melon have worked efficiently on decreasing blood sugar levels .This study where even compared with known anti diabetic drugs and bitter melon report was confirmed.

For a lay man in India when suffering with diabetes, he is normally advised by expert Vaidya to drink fresh juice squeezed of this vegetable or eat it daily or take some seeds of this plant daily. Results are very successful even in general for prevention of diabetes in prone cases or borderline cases.

Digestive system and Bitter Melon:

Other than its use for diabetes this vegetable fruit has been known for its work on the digestive system too. Due to its property of demulcent nature, it is been traditionally used for relieving constipation. Also because of the bitterness of this fruit, it helps stimulate digestion. Seeds of these vegetables are also known to be used for ring worm infections in a specific way by traditional healers in India and even in other countries.

Bitter melon and Malaria:

Many Asian countries and some South American countries have

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